LOVELAND, Colo. (July 31, 2025) – Banner Health in Northern Colorado is proud to announce a significant achievement. Eric Gardner, MD, one of Banner Health’s leading orthopedic specialists, recently completed his 100^th robotic knee surgery.

Dr. Gardner has been using VELYS^™ Robotic-Assisted Solution for total knee replacement. The VELYS solution is a state-of-the-art surgical technology that enhances precision and leads to quicker recovery, improved range of motion and less pain for overall better outcomes. Working alongside the ATTUNE^™ Knee System, this technology has been provided to over 1.5 million patients worldwide.

The VELYS solution is designed to provide digital precision in knee replacement, making each surgery personalized to the patient’s unique anatomy. During the procedure, a surgeon uses a robotic-assisted device, a high-speed camera, optical trackers and data screens to provide the most accurate knee replacement possible. Intraoperative imaging also eliminates the need for costly computed tomography (CT) scans before surgery. The technology does not replace the surgeon. It simply enhances the surgeon’s ability to deliver consistent, personalized outcomes with efficiency. In Northern Colorado, Richard Williams, MD, of Banner Health utilizes the VELYS solution along with Dr. Gardner to bring this next-generation care to patients in the region. 

“The VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution allows us to customize a knee replacement surgery to each patient’s unique anatomy with incredible precision,” said Dr. Gardner. “We can make real-time adjustments during the procedure, which helps improve alignment, reduce soft tissue trauma and ultimately leads to less pain and a faster recovery compared to traditional methods, making it the preferred choice for most patients.”

One of those patients is Diana Larson, a Loveland resident, who underwent knee replacement surgery with Dr. Gardner in March 2025 using the VELYS solution. After living with chronic knee pain and having previously undergone a traditional knee replacement on her other knee in 2022, Larson was ready for a better solution.

The goals of traditional and robotic-assisted knee replacement are the same: to remove damaged bone and cartilage and attach artificial joint parts for improved knee function. Healing from manual surgery can take more time due to the nature of the procedure, which only references previous CT scans to remove damage instead of the real-time imaging the VELYS solution provides.

“I saw the VELYS robot at McKee Medical Center while volunteering and thought, ‘Wow, it’s finally time,’” Larson said. “I even had a stranger who saw me wearing a knee brace tell me, ‘If you have knee surgery, get the robot. It’s wonderful.’ That stuck with me.”

Larson’s results speak for themselves. Unlike traditional knee replacement surgery, which can require several days of hospitalization post-operation and a slower recovery that often requires a walker, crutches and then a cane, Larson’s surgery was completed as an outpatient procedure and she was home later that afternoon. Just one month after surgery, she reported much less pain and significantly quicker healing compared to her prior traditional knee replacement. Just thirty days after her second knee surgery, she experienced more mobility than she had four months after her first surgery.

Patients like Larson, who are eager to return to being active, are finding new hope and faster healing through robotic-assisted procedures. Just a few months post-operation, Larsen is back to biking and hiking with confidence.

The VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution is now available at McKee Medical Center in Loveland. Those interested in more information can call (970) 810-0020.

About Banner Health McKee Medical Center
Banner McKee Medical Center, opened in 1976, is a fully accredited, private nonprofit facility in Loveland, Colorado. McKee is owned by Banner Health, a nonprofit health care system with 33 hospitals in six states. It offers emergency care, cancer care, heart care, orthopedics, surgery, rehabilitation, intensive care, lab and medical imaging. For more information, please visit bannerhealth.com/mckee.