Veluppillai Navacodi, a 77-year-old Scarborough resident from Sri Lanka, has a renewed zest for life thanks to an innovative knee surgery new to SHN. He recently became one of the first patients to benefit from the VELYS surgical robot, a cutting-edge tool funded by generous donors.
“I had a knee replacement on my other knee in 2015 without robotic surgery and stayed in the hospital for two days. This time, with robotic surgery, I was able to go home the same day and had better flexibility,” Veluppillai shared.
In January 2024, SHN became the first community hospital in Ontario to use VELYS technology for knee surgeries, completing over 180 successful operations in the first seven months. Veluppillai’s experience highlights the benefits of robotic-assisted surgery, which enhances precision, reduces operative times, and minimizes soft tissue damage. This allows SHN to handle more complex cases with greater accuracy.
“Using the robot allows us to address both straightforward and complex cases with better precision,” said Dr. Caroline Scott, orthopaedic surgeon, SHN. “It’s like a flight simulator, enabling us to test and visualize surgical outcomes before making a single incision.”
Before his surgery, Veluppillai, was experiencing a lot of pain and could not walk; now, he walks without a cane. His story, and the integration of the VELYS robot to the surgical program, reflects SHN’s commitment to delivering world-class healthcare in Scarborough; SHN is a centre of excellence in orthopaedic care and has one of the largest orthopaedics programs in Ontario.
“We are a high-volume, high-efficiency centre performing the most total joint replacements of any community hospital in Ontario, including 1,800 total hip and knee replacement surgeries annually,” said Dr. Warren Latham, Corporate Chief of Orthopaedics, SHN.
As SHN continues to invest in and optimize technology, to take exceptional quality and patient safety to the next level, Dr. Latham emphasizes the significant role of community and donor support in enhancing patient care.
“For years, Scarborough was seen as an afterthought, we were underfunded. Donations have fundamentally changed the face of working in Scarborough—donors are crucial to pushing our organization forward.”
