What is VELYS™ Hip Navigation?
Total hip replacement, also called total hip arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure in which the worn out or damaged surfaces of the hip joint (cartilage and bone) are removed and replaced with an artificial prosthesis (implant) to prevent painful bone-on-bone contact, relieve pain, and restore normal range of motion and hip function.
Precise positioning of the implants is crucial to accomplish a good clinical outcome and a successful total hip replacement. VELYS™ Hip Navigation is an advanced digital technology designed to assist surgeons with precision and accuracy in hip arthroplasty surgery. During the surgery, a picture known as a fluoroscopic image is obtained of your hip and analyzed in real-time, with the objective of accomplishing perfect alignment and placement of the hip implants. Better implant sizing and position help to accomplish a more natural feel, a higher degree of stability, and longer lasting implants.
VELYS™ Hip Navigation system provides your surgeon performing hip replacement with valuable information on precise analysis of implant selection and positioning with its simple-to-use non-invasive computer navigation, presurgical digital templating, and case planning.
How Does VELYS™ Hip Navigation Work?
The information gathered by VELYS™ Hip Navigation system is employed by your surgeon to increase precision and accuracy during placement of your hip implants.
Prior to your hip replacement surgery, a fluoroscopic image is obtained of your hip bones and entered into the VELYS™ Hip Navigation system to aid in determining the distinctive size of your hip bones and the implant sizes that may best fit your hip anatomy.
At the time of surgery, this provides your surgeon significant information on femoral and acetabular implants, including cup position, femoral offset, and leg length that aids your surgeon at various stages of the hip arthroplasty to improve accuracy and results.
Indications for VELYS™ Hip Navigation
Your surgeon may recommend VELYS™ Hip Navigation system for hip arthroplasty for the following conditions:
- Treatment of arthritic conditions, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis of the hip joint
- Severe hip joint fracture or trauma
- Failed total hip replacement
- Malpositioning of the acetabular component
- Dislocation of the joint
- Impingement of the prosthesis
- Aseptic loosening of the prosthesis
- Periprosthetic osteolysis
- Polyethene liner wear of the implant
- Prosthetic joint infection
Advantages of VELYS™ Hip Navigation
Some of the benefits of VELYS™ Hip Navigation system assisted hip replacement surgery include:
- Improved accuracy in sizing and positioning of your hip implant
- Improved functional outcome and joint stability
- Improved durability of the implant
- Reduced risk of leg-length discrepancies
- Reduced operative time and radiation dose
- Reduced risk of implant wear and dislocation
Risks and Complications
VELYS™ Hip Navigation assisted hip replacement is a relatively safe procedure; however, as with any surgery, some risks and complications may occur, such as the following:
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Postoperative pain
- Damage to nerves and vessels
- Thromboembolism or blood clots
- Allergic/anesthetic reactions
- Leg length discrepancy
- Implant fracture/failure
- Dislocations (rarely)