Orthopedics · Joint Surgery

Department Name: Orthopedics. Joint Surgery

Department Development History: The Orthopedics. Joint Surgery Department originated from the Department of Western Medicine Orthopedics at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital and was established in 1984, with the renowned orthopedic expert Professor Zhang Guangbo as its first director (the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Orthopedics and Traumatology was established during the same period). Around 2000, the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Orthopedics and Traumatology was merged into it, and the two were collectively called the Department of Orthopedics, with Professor Li Zirong serving as director. As the discipline developed, Orthopedics gradually formed the professional directions of “Joint Surgery,” “Spinal Surgery,” and “Trauma Orthopedics.” In 2009, the department was reorganized into separate divisions, and “Bone and Joint Surgery” was formally established, with Professor Guo Wanshou serving as director (the “Spinal Surgery” and “Trauma Orthopedics” departments were also established at the same time). Beginning in January 2018, Orthopedics implemented a large-department system, and Bone and Joint Surgery was renamed “Orthopedics Department I,” with Professor Wang Weiguo serving as the person in charge of Orthopedics and Orthopedics Department I. Beginning in July 2021, Orthopedics Department I was renamed “Orthopedics. Joint Surgery,” with Professor Wang Weiguo serving as department director. After nearly 40 years of efforts by several generations, Joint Surgery has become a renowned professional institution for the diagnosis and treatment of joint diseases both domestically and internationally. It has achieved notable results in the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head; the etiology and stepwise treatment of osteoarthritis; artificial joint replacement; and minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery, among other areas. It is a featured specialty that the hospital has prioritized for key development. The comprehensive discipline score of Joint Surgery has ranked among the top 10 of all hospital departments in each of the past three years. Most recently (for 2021), it ranked 3rd hospital-wide and 1st in the surgical system.

Staff Composition: The department director is Wang Weiguo, and the head nurse is Xu Yaping. There are 15 physicians (7 chief physicians, 2 associate chief physicians, 3 attending physicians, and 3 resident physicians), 16 qualified nurses, and 2 secretaries. All physicians hold doctoral degrees, and all associate chief physicians and above have studied or worked abroad. Multiple doctors hold positions in academic organizations including the Chinese Medical Association, Chinese Medical Doctor Association, Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine, Chinese Association of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Chinese Orthopaedic Society, China International Exchange and Promotive Association for Medical and Health Care, International Society of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology (SICOT), Beijing Medical Association, Chinese Association of Research Medicine, and China Medical Education Association.

Outpatient and Inpatient Facilities: The department has Joint Surgery outpatient clinics in the General Outpatient Clinic, Special Needs Outpatient Clinic, and International Department, respectively. There are a total of 40 inpatient beds. The department has 1 Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Immune Inflammatory Diseases.

Introduction to Diagnostic and Treatment Equipment: Joint Surgery has 1 StrykerMAKO joint replacement surgical robot, 1 Siemens bedside X-ray radiography unit, 4 Smith&Nephew arthroscopy systems, 1 ConMedLinvatec arthroscopy system, 1 Smith&Nephew traction table specifically for hip arthroscopy, and 1 Cobe2991 blood cell separator. Jointly with other orthopedic departments, it has 1 Ziehm intraoperative CT scanner and 5 Siemens and OEC “C”-arm fluoroscopy units.

Clinical Expertise of the Department: The department’s clinical diagnostic and treatment technologies and level of scientific research are both at the forefront of the field of joint surgery in China. It particularly specializes in treating osteonecrosis of the femoral head, knee osteoarthritis, complex hip disorders, sports-related joint injuries, and other conditions. The department’s team of physicians with doctoral degrees and professional nursing team jointly provide patients with diagnostic and treatment services aligned with advanced international concepts:

1. Artificial Joint Replacement Surgery: The department has performed artificial joint replacement surgery, primarily involving the hip and knee joints, for more than 30 years. All experts at the associate chief physician level and above have many years of extensive experience in artificial joint replacement surgery. The department performs nearly 1,000 joint replacement surgeries annually and has established comprehensive processes for surgical management, perioperative management, and accelerated rehabilitation. The main conditions treated include hip and knee osteoarthritis, advanced-stage osteonecrosis of the femoral head, and osteoarthritis secondary to developmental dysplasia of the hip. Director Guo Wanshou was among the first in China to perform unicompartmental knee replacement surgery, addressing unicompartmental lesions of the knee with minimal trauma and enabling rapid recovery. As an Oxford unicompartmental knee replacement training base, Joint Surgery has made important contributions to the promotion of this technology in China. In recent years, the direct anterior approach to hip replacement and robot-assisted hip and knee replacement surgeries led by Director Wang Weiguo have offered advantages including precision, minimal invasiveness, rapid recovery, and low complication rates, and have also become mature signature techniques.

2. Minimally Invasive Arthroscopic Surgery: Arthroscopic surgery is a routine minimally invasive treatment modality in Joint Surgery. The department performs 300-500 arthroscopic surgeries annually, reaching an advanced level in China. The main conditions treated by knee arthroscopy are cruciate ligament injuries and meniscal injuries, and these procedures are performed primarily by Yue Debo, Wang Weiguo, Wang Bailiang, Shi Zhencai, Zhang Qidong, Gao Fuqiang, Ding Ran, Ma Jinhui, and Huang Cheng. The main conditions treated by shoulder arthroscopy are frozen shoulder, subacromial impingement syndrome, acute and chronic shoulder joint injuries, and rotator cuff and labral lesions, and these procedures are performed primarily by Yue Debo, Wang Bailiang, Ma Jinhui, Ding Ran, and Huang Cheng. Since 2008, the department has been among the earlier institutions in China to perform arthroscopic treatment for femoroacetabular impingement and acetabular labral injuries. Both its technical level and clinical outcomes rank among the leading levels in China. These procedures are performed by Wang Weiguo and Ding Ran.

3. Femoral Head-Preserving Surgery for Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head: Under the direction and leadership of Professor Li Zirong, the clinical diagnosis and treatment and basic research of osteonecrosis of the femoral head in Joint Surgery have reached internationally advanced and domestically leading levels, making it a renowned institution for the diagnosis and treatment of osteonecrosis. In 2012, Professor Li Zirong proposed the China-Japan Friendship Hospital classification of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (CJFH classification). As the lead institution, the department participated in formulating China’s “Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Osteonecrosis” and “Clinical Diagnostic and Treatment Standards for Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head.” It has established a series of femoral head-preserving treatment methods for osteonecrosis of the femoral head that can be selected on an individualized basis, including modified core decompression, autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell implantation, lesion debridement and impaction bone grafting through femoral head-and-neck fenestration, bone flap transplantation, osteotomy, and extracorporeal shock wave therapy. More than 4,000 femoral head-preserving surgeries for osteonecrosis of the femoral head have been performed.

4. Stepwise Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: Based on the stage and location of the lesions and individual patient circumstances, the department has developed a stepwise treatment plan ranging from medication and injection therapy to minimally invasive arthroscopic treatment, osteotomy, partial joint replacement, and total knee replacement, providing individualized and precise treatment for different patients.

5. Hip and Knee Osteotomy: The department was among the earlier institutions in China to perform proximal femoral osteotomy for osteonecrosis of the femoral head, acetabular osteotomy for developmental dysplasia of the hip, and proximal tibial osteotomy for knee osteoarthritis. In particular, it has accumulated a large number of cases and extensive clinical experience in high tibial osteotomy for early-stage knee osteoarthritis.

6. Surgical Treatment of Foot and Ankle Disorders: This includes hallux valgus, flatfoot, foot deformities, and other conditions, and is performed primarily by physicians including Liu Zhaohui, Zhang Qidong, and Ding Ran.

7. Surgical Treatment of Bone Tumors: This includes resection with bone grafting and reconstruction for benign bone tumors, as well as limb-salvage surgery and artificial joint replacement surgery with tumor prostheses for malignant bone tumors.

Research Achievements of the Department: The number of grant-funded research projects secured by Joint Surgery ranks among the highest of the clinical departments at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital. The department undertakes multiple projects under the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the National Key R&D Program, key projects of clinical units under the Ministry of Health, projects of the Beijing Natural Science Foundation, projects under the Beijing Science and Technology Plan, and joint research projects funded by the Capital Medical Development Fund. Over the past 5 years, it has published more than 200 papers in domestic and international academic journals, including more than 110 SCI papers, and has published more than 10 monographs and translated works. It holds international academic conferences and national-level continuing education training courses every year.

Departmental Teaching: Joint Surgery undertakes the teaching of theoretical courses, clinical observation, and internships for undergraduates and eight-year-program students at Peking University Health Science Center and Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. Three members of the department are qualified to supervise doctoral students, and 6 are qualified to supervise master’s students. It is a doctoral training site for Peking Union Medical College, Peking University Health Science Center, Capital Medical University, and Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, and a master’s training site for the China-Japan Friendship Institute of Clinical Medicine. More than 30 doctoral and master’s graduate students are currently enrolled.

Departmental Honors: “Basic and Clinical Research on Steroid-Induced Osteonecrosis,” led by Professor Li Zirong, received the 2007 Chinese Medical Science and Technology Award, Second Prize, and the Ministry of Health Science and Technology Progress Award, Third Prize. “Research Related to Steroid-Induced Osteonecrosis,” led by Professor Sun Wei, received the 2018 Beijing Science and Technology Progress Award, Second Prize, and the Huaxia Medical Award, Third Prize, and received the Youth Science and Technology Award of the Chinese Medical Award in 2019. “Experimental Research on the Molecular Mechanisms of Osteoarthritis Pathogenesis and Its Gene Therapy,” in which Director Wang Weiguo participated, received the 2006 Chinese Medical Science and Technology Award, Second Prize (Third). “Percutaneous Puncture Treatment for Cervical Disc Herniation,” in which Physician Cheng Liming participated, received the 2001 Provincial-/Ministerial-Level Science and Technology Achievement Award, Third Prize (Second). On numerous occasions, multiple individuals have received honors including “Outstanding Employee of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital,” “Outstanding Teacher of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital,” “Outstanding Teacher of Peking University Health Science Center,” “Outstanding Graduate Supervisor of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital,” “Outstanding Teaching Management Award of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital,” and “Outstanding Teaching and Research Section of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital.” The department has received the “China-Japan Friendship Hospital Medical Award” 3 times.

Other Important Matters: All Joint Surgery personnel at the associate chief physician level and above have participated in counterpart assistance in Tibet, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, and other areas. Professor Guo Wanshou received the honors of “National Health System Advanced Individual in Aid to Tibet,” “Capital Advanced Individual in SARS Prevention and Control,” and “Outstanding Chinese Volunteer.” Chief Physician Zhang Nianfei participated in relief work following the Wenchuan earthquake. Chief Physicians Wang Weiguo and Sun Wei participated in medical support for the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games, and Wang Weiguo received the honor of “Advanced Individual among Volunteers for the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games.” Wang Weiguo and Zhang Qidong participated in the work of the National Emergency Medical Team. Nurse Fan Meng participated in Wuhan’s fight against COVID-19 and completed the assignment excellently.

Location within the Hospital: The department’s outpatient clinic is located on the 3rd floor of Building B; the inpatient ward is located on the 7th floor of Building A.

Department Telephone Numbers: Outpatient Clinic: 010-84205336, Inpatient Ward: 010-84206197, Nurses’ Station: 010-84205009