For years, John Pritchard, 62, struggled with debilitating arthritis in his left knee, which severely limited his mobility. Simple activities like walking long distances and bending his knees became increasingly painful—especially difficult for an avid cyclist like John.

Everything changed in March 2024, when Dr. Jose Guerra, an orthopaedic surgeon at SHN,performed a total knee replacement surgery using the new VELYS surgical robot at Birchmount Hospital.

This state-of-the-art technology, funded by donors to the Love, Scarborough campaign, is part of SHN’s orthopaedic centre of excellence—the largest orthopaedic program in Ontario. The compact robot enables surgeons to operate with unparalleled precision, reducing pain, recovery time, and improving outcomes.

“The VELYS robot is a technological wonder in working toward total joint recovery,” said Dr. Guerra.

From VELYS to Velocity

Remarkably, within just eight weeks, John was back on his bike. His first warm-up ride covered 20 kilometres. By 12 weeks post-op, he completed a 30-km ride, including uphill climbs and sharp turns that arthritis had once made impossible.

John credits his fast recovery to both the advanced technology of the VELYS robot and SHN’s surgical team.

“The staff were so amazing and welcoming, from registration all the way to the operating room,” John said. “When I learned that my surgery was going to be assisted by the VELYS robot, I was very excited! I trusted Dr. Guerra when he said that it would significantly help my results, and I’m very glad I did.”

A Remarkable Recovery Experience

John recalls feeling surprisingly comfortable after surgery.

“I didn’t even need to take my pain medications when I was resting,” he said. “For the first time in years, I felt like I could relax. It didn’t even feel like I’d had surgery at times.”

He praises SHN staff for their supportive and attentive care throughout his journey and says he recommends SHN to anyone experiencing joint issues.

Ontario’s Leading Orthopaedic Program

With more than 5,000 surgeries annually, SHN’s orthopaedic program includes 1,800 total hip and knee replacements per year—more than any other community hospital in Ontario.

In addition to low complication rates and high patient satisfaction, SHN has some of the province’s lowest wait times for total knee replacement surgery.

“On average, patients can expect to wait less than three weeks for their procedure from the moment the decision to treat has been made,” Dr. Guerra explained.

Supporting this efficiency is SHN’s Orthopaedic Navigator role, which helps triage referrals and connect patients quickly to the right surgeon.

Physicians can refer patients to SHN’s orthopaedic program through our online portal at www.shn.ca/orthopaedics or by emailing orthonavigator@shn.ca.