China's Top Departments: Orthopedics at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University
Founded in the 1930s, Huashan Hospital's Orthopedics Department is a National Key Discipline with nearly a century of heritage. Pioneering anterior approach spinal TB surgery, China's first artificial cervical disc replacement (1967), and navigation-assisted spinal fixation, the department ranks among China's top orthopedic centers across spine, joint, trauma, foot & ankle, and bone tumor surgery.
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Short answer:Founded in the 1930s, Huashan Hospital's Orthopedics Department is a National Key Discipline with nearly a century of heritage. Pioneering anterior approach spinal TB surgery, China's first artificial cervical disc replacement (1967), and navigation-assisted spinal fixation, the department ranks among China's top orthopedic centers across spine, joint, trauma, foot & ankle, and bone tumor surgery.
Key points
- National Key Discipline · National Key Clinical Specialty
- Founded in the 1930s — Nearly a Century of Heritage
- China's First Artificial Cervical Disc Replacement (1967)
- ~200,000 Outpatient Visits & 8,000+ Surgeries Annually
If you or a loved one is facing a complex orthopedic condition — spinal deformity, joint disease, bone tumor, foot & ankle deformity, or traumatic injury — the Department of Orthopedics at Huashan Hospital is among the most experienced centers in China.
Founded in the 1930s by Prof. Ren Tinggui and former hospital president Prof. Li Hongru (one of the founding figures of orthopedics in China), the department is a National Key Discipline, a National Key Clinical Specialty, one of the first batch of key specialties designated by the Ministry of Health, and a Shanghai Key Clinical Specialty. With nearly a century of development, the department has built distinctive strengths in spine, joint, trauma, foot & ankle, and bone tumor surgery.
Current Department Director: Prof. Ma Xiaosheng
The department operates across three campuses (main campus, Hongqiao campus, Baoshan campus) with 58 staff members, including 12 full professors, 21 associate professors, 6 doctoral supervisors, and 5 master's supervisors. It handles nearly 200,000 outpatient & emergency visits and performs more than 8,000 surgeries annually.
At Medora, we've helped international patients navigate Huashan's orthopedics department. Here's what you need to know.
Milestones
| Era | Achievement |
|---|---|
| 1930s | Department founded by Prof. Ren Tinggui and Prof. Li Hongru |
| 1950s | Pioneered anterior approach debridement for spinal tuberculosis |
| 1960s | Helped establish orthopedic departments at Chongqing Medical College and Xinjiang Medical College |
| 1967 | Performed the first artificial cervical disc replacement in China, winning a Major Scientific Achievement Award from the Ministry of Health |
| 1970s+ | Developed anterior cervical surgery and anterior decompression for spinal fractures |
| 1980s | Introduced surgical correction of scoliosis; the department later gave rise to the independent Hand Surgery & Microsurgery Department of Huashan Hospital |
| 1981 | Established one of the earliest foot disease units in China |
Expert Team
Key Specialists:
| Expert | Role | Areas of Expertise |
|---|---|---|
| Prof. Jiang Jianyuan | Former director | Vice chair of the Spine Group, Chinese Orthopaedic Association; 30+ years in spine surgery, 10,000+ procedures; pioneered navigation-assisted spinal fixation in China |
| Prof. Ma Xin | Vice President of Huashan Hospital | Leading figure in foot & ankle surgery in China; trained at Mayo Clinic, USA; minimally invasive hallux valgus correction (Shanghai Medical Science & Technology Progress Award) |
| Prof. Chen Zhengrong | Joint Replacement Pioneer | One of the earliest joint replacement pioneers in China; specializes in hip and knee arthroplasty and revision |
| Prof. Zhang Weibin | Director, Bone Tumor Unit | Standing committee member, Bone Tumor Group, Chinese Anti-Cancer Association; limb salvage rates above 90% using 3D-printed custom prostheses |
| Prof. Dong Jian | Head, Spine Minimally Invasive Center | Pioneered single-incision dual-approach endoscopic fusion in China |
| Prof. Lü Feizhou | Deputy director | Co-developer of novel bone-cement-reinforced pedicle screw (national invention patent); 40+ SCI papers |
| Prof. Zhou Xiaozhong | Academic leader, Trauma Orthopedics | Academic leader of the Trauma Orthopedics subspecialty |
Five Subspecialties
The department comprises five subspecialties — Spine Surgery, Joint Surgery, Trauma Orthopedics, Foot & Ankle Surgery, and Bone Tumor Surgery — with four signature clinical programs:
1. Spine Surgery
- Precision diagnosis & treatment of complex spine disorders
- Equipped with ultrasonic bone scalpel, full-visualization foraminal endoscopy, and navigation systems
- Performs zero-profile anterior cervical fusion and oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF)
2. Joint Surgery
- Bone-preserving hip arthroplasty
- Patient-specific navigated osteotomy
- Standardized stepwise joint care
3. Trauma Orthopedics
- Comprehensive trauma care
- Medical support for major events including the F1 Chinese Grand Prix and the World Swimming Championships
4. Foot & Ankle Surgery
- Home to one of China's earliest foot disease units (est. 1981)
- Functional correction of complex foot & ankle deformities
- Minimally invasive hallux valgus correction allows early postoperative weight-bearing
5. Bone Tumor Surgery
- 3D-printed custom prostheses for limb salvage
- Limb salvage rates above 90%
6. Osteoporotic Fracture Care
- Comprehensive intervention for osteoporotic fractures in the elderly
Research & Honors
- Leads major national and provincial projects including the Ministry of Science and Technology Key R&D Program, National Natural Science Foundation of China, and Shanghai Science & Technology Commission key projects
- Led the drafting of the international clinical guideline for Hirayama disease and the Chinese expert consensus on hallux valgus surgery
- Awards include the Ministry of Health Major Scientific Achievement Award, Chinese Medical Science & Technology Award (Second Prize), and Shanghai Medical Science & Technology Award (First Prize)
- Published hundreds of papers in SCI-indexed and leading Chinese journals
- The Atlas of Applied Spinal Anatomy was selected for the first "Three Hundred" Original Publishing Project of China
- Ranked 4th among China's top-10 spine surgery centers (39 Health Network, 2026)
Education & International Collaboration
- Founded the Fudan University Spine Surgery Center and the Huashan International Practical Anatomy Research & Training Institute (PARTI)
- Since 2004, the Huashan Orthopedic Applied Anatomy Training Program has trained more than 8,000 orthopedic surgeons nationwide
- Long-term continuing-education partnerships with Mayo Clinic (USA) and NASS; the "HUASHAN-MAYO Spine Forum" is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)
- Designated in 2013 as one of Shanghai's first specialist standardized training bases; selected in 2017 as one of 16 national backbone teaching bases; in 2023 became one of Shanghai's first five residency training bases for orthopedics
Clinical Volume
| Metric | Annual Volume |
|---|---|
| Outpatient & emergency visits | ~200,000 |
| Surgeries | 8,000+ |
Location
Main campus: No. 12 Wulumuqi Middle Road, Jing'an District, Shanghai, China
Orthopedic services are available across three campuses: main campus, Hongqiao campus, and Baoshan campus.
This guide is prepared for an international audience. If you need assistance with medical consultation, appointment booking, or travel arrangements to Huashan Hospital's Orthopedics Department, contact Medora for personalized support.
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