EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Each year, more than 700,000 total knee replacements are performed in the United States.¹ As more patients seek relief from joint pain—and hope for a faster, smoother recovery—University Orthopedics is once again bringing proven tools and best-in-class care to our region to meet the growing demand for advanced, personalized surgical options.
As a long-standing leader in orthopedic innovation, University Orthopedics is proud to be the first in the region to offer one of the most personalized approaches to joint restoration: the VELYS™ Robotic-Assisted Solution. Helping surgeons perform knee replacement procedures using data customized to each patient’s unique anatomy²,³, the addition of this system at the East Bay Surgery Center, UOI’s state-of-the-art surgical center, underscores the practice’s dedication to delivering exceptional, patient-centered care.
“By supporting a more natural balance and movement for joint replacement done in an ambulatory surgical center, this technology is a powerful tool that represents the next generation of personalized orthopedic care,” said Dr. Valentin Antoci, MD, PhD, orthopedic surgeon and director of Outpatient Adult Reconstruction at University Orthopedics. “The feedback from our patients has been overwhelmingly positive.”
Robotic-assisted technology may offer several benefits compared to traditional techniques, including improved range of motion, reduced pain, and a quicker recovery.³⁻⁶ Over the past six years, the use of robotic-assisted total knee replacement has increased more than sixfold and now accounts for more than 15.9 percent of all procedures nationwide—a testament to its growing role in achieving more consistent, reliable outcomes.⁷
The VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution works alongside the ATTUNE™ Knee System, an innovative implant designed to help improve stability and reduce pain. The ATTUNE Knee supports a better range of motion and helps prevent the unstable feeling some patients may experience during everyday activities, such as bending and walking up and down stairs.8,9,10
“Robotics gives us a level of consistency and accuracy, allowing us to individualize alignment and soft-tissue balance so patients can return to the active lifestyles they love with greater confidence,” said Dr. Thomas Barrett, MD, orthopedic surgeon at University Orthopedics.
Next-Generation Technology for Today’s Active Patients
Today’s ageing population is living more active lives than ever—hiking, boating, playing pickleball, and placing greater demands on their joints. As a result, modern joint replacement patients aren’t slowing down, and they expect their new knees and hips to keep pace. To meet patient expectations, University Orthopedics remains committed to investing only in proven, data-driven technologies that enhance surgical precision and elevate the patient experience—ensuring that patients in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts have access to the highest-level orthopedic care in the country.
Technologies like the VELYS™ Robotic-Assisted Solution help University Orthopedics surgeons provide customized care by delivering highly precise bone cuts, optimized implant positioning, personalized knee balance data, and real-time insights that visualize and predict joint stability.
“This system helps us deliver both accuracy and efficiency—two essentials for modern outpatient joint replacement,” said Dr. Mouhanad El Othmani, MD, orthopedic surgeon at University Orthopedics. “By combining robotics with enhanced recovery pathways, we’re seeing patients get back on their feet faster and with a more natural-feeling joint.”
Building on this robotic precision, University Orthopedics integrates an entire ecosystem of advanced technologies—from tools like Patient Path, to evidence-based implant selection, extensive AI-driven insights, INTUITION™ Instruments, and other innovative techniques. Together, these solutions support one consistent goal: delivering durable, reproducible outcomes that promote long-term mobility, independence, and an active quality of life.
For more information about the VELYS™ Robotic-Assisted Solution, please call University Orthopedics at 401-457-1500.
Important Safety Information
The performance of knee replacements depends on age, weight, activity level, and other factors. There are potential risks and recovery takes time. People with conditions limiting rehabilitation should not have knee replacement surgery. Only an orthopedic surgeon can determine if knee replacement is required based on an individual patient’s condition.
Important Information: Prior to use, refer to the instructions for use supplied with the device(s) for indications, contraindications, side effects, warnings and precautions. ©Johnson & Johnson and its affiliates 2025. All rights reserved.US_ORT_DGSR_401761
1 Total knee replacement. OrthoInfo. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Published July 2020. Accessed June 12, 2025. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/treatment/total-knee-replacement/
2 Doan GW, Courtis RP, Wyss JG, Green EW, Clary CW. Image-Free Robotic-Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty Improves Implant Alignment Accuracy: A Cadaveric Study. J Arthroplasty. 2022;37(4):795-801. doi:10.1016/j.arth.2021.12.035.
3 Clatworthy M. Patient-Specific TKA with the VELYS™ Robotic-Assisted Solution. Surg Technol Int. 2022;40:315-320. doi:10.52198/22.STI.40.OS1561.
4 Agarwal N, To K, McDonnell S, Khan W. Clinical and Radiological Outcomes in Robotic-Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty; The Journal of Arthroplasty 35 (2020) p. 3393-3409.
5 Morrisey ZS, Barra MF, Guirguis PG, Drinkwater CJ. Transition to Robotic Total Knee Arthroplasty With Kinematic Alignment is Associated With a Short Learning Curve and Similar Acute-Period Functional Recoveries. Cureus. 2023.
6 Alton TB, Chitnis AS, Goldstein L, et al. Resource utilization and costs for robotic-assisted and manual total knee arthroplasty – a premier healthcare database study [published online ahead of print, 2023 Mar 2]. Expert Rev Med Devices. 2023;1-9. doi:10.1080/17434440.2023.2185138
7 Highlights from the AJRR 2024 Annual Report, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), December 2024.
8 Indelli PF, Pipino G, Johnson P, Graceffa A, Marcucci M. Posterior-stabilized total knee arthroplasty: a matched pair analysis of a classic and its evolutional design. Arthroplast Today. 2016;2(4):193-198. Published 2016 Aug 21. doi:10.1016/j.artd.2016.05.002.
9 Hamilton WG, Brenkel IJ, Barnett SL, Clatworthy M, de Steiger RN, Howell JR. Comparison of Existing and New Total Knee Arthroplasty Implant Systems From the Same Manufacturer: A Prospective, Multicenter Study. J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev. 2021;5(12):e21.00136. Published 2021 Dec 15. doi:10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-21-00136.
10 Pfitzner T, Moewis P, Stein P, et al. Modifications of femoral component design in multi-radius total knee arthroplasty lead to higher lateral posterior femoro-tibial translation. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2018;26(6):1645-1655. doi:10.1007/s00167-017-4622-7.