Main Campus Sports Medicine Department

The Department’s sports medicine specialty was the first in the province to carry out minimally invasive arthroscopic treatment in 1999, and the Sports Medicine Department became an independent department in 2023. Under the leadership of Director and Chief Physician Zhang Qiliang, the department has developed rapidly. In 2022, the department ranked 10th in the Fudan-version Sports Medicine Reputation Ranking for East China; the sports medicine specialty is a standing committee member institution of the Sports Medicine Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, and the chair institution of the Sports Medicine Branches of the provincial and municipal medical associations.

There are currently 10 beds, 5 physicians (2 with doctoral degrees and 3 with master’s degrees; 1 chief physician, 2 deputy chief physicians, 1 intermediate-level physician, and 1 junior physician), 13 nurses (14 with bachelor’s degrees; 1 deputy chief nurse, 8 intermediate-level nurses, and 4 junior nurses), and 10 rehabilitation therapists. The department is equipped with 3 arthroscopy systems, an isokinetic ISOMED 2000 system, shock-wave equipment, and other advanced devices.

The department mainly diagnoses and treats injuries and degenerative diseases of the knee, shoulder, hip, ankle, elbow, wrist, and foot. Its core technologies include minimally invasive arthroscopy, knee preservation, hip preservation, and joint replacement.

Knee: meniscal injuries, anterior and posterior cruciate ligament injuries, collateral ligament injuries, cartilage injuries, fractures, patellar dislocation, various types of arthritis and synovitis, etc.

Shoulder: rotator cuff injuries, periarthritis of the shoulder, subacromial impingement syndrome, acromioclavicular joint dislocation, Bankart lesions, fractures, shoulder instability, etc.

Ankle: ligament injuries, chronic instability, distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injuries, osteochondral lesions of the talus, fractures, post-traumatic arthritis, synovitis, impingement syndrome, Achilles tendinitis, heel pain, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendon rupture, tarsal sinus syndrome, talocalcaneal coalition, etc.

Hip: labral injuries, femoral neck fractures, femoral head necrosis, femoroacetabular impingement, osteoarthritis, etc.

Periarticular lesions: high tibial osteotomy, unicompartmental replacement, arthroscopy-assisted internal fixation of fractures, arthroscopic minimally invasive treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, plantar aponeurosis inflammation, snapping hip, gluteal muscle contracture, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, torticollis, etc.

Distinctive Features and Technical Advantages

1. Minimally Invasive Arthroscopic Techniques

Anterior cruciate ligament techniques: All-inside reconstruction and anterior cruciate ligament repair are specialties of the department. All-inside reconstruction requires less tendon harvest, causes less trauma, and preserves bone stock. Ligament repair is suitable for young patients with proximal tears and preserves proprioception. Both techniques have been promoted several times as advanced technologies in the province, with rapid postoperative rehabilitation and excellent functional recovery.

Shoulder techniques: Arthroscopic treatment of rotator cuff injuries and frozen shoulder is mature; the range of motion is significantly improved on the day of surgery, and pain is relieved rapidly. Single-row and double-row repairs and patch augmentation are performed according to different tear types, with definite efficacy.

Ankle techniques: Ankle ligament repair and reconstruction, microfracture or autologous osteochondral transplantation for osteochondral lesions of the talus, and arthroscopic debridement for ankle impingement are at an advanced level. For chronic ankle instability, anatomic ligament reconstruction is performed, significantly improving postoperative stability and athletic ability.

2. Application of Arthroscopy in Extra-articular Lesions

Small-incision treatment is used for carpal tunnel syndrome, plantar aponeurosis inflammation, gluteal muscle contracture, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, mother’s thumb, and some soft-tissue masses, with minimal trauma and rapid recovery.

3. Stepwise Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis

Personalized plans are developed for different stages: exercise guidance, PRP injection, arthroscopic debridement, cartilage transplantation, osteotomy (HTO, etc.), unicompartmental replacement, patellofemoral joint replacement, and total knee replacement, preserving joint function to the greatest extent possible.

4. Advantages of the Ankle and Foot Subspecialty

The department has established a minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment system for ankle and foot diseases. Achilles tendinitis, Achilles tendon rupture, heel pain, and other conditions are treated by arthroscopy or minimally invasive small-incision techniques, with minimal trauma and rapid recovery. For ankle osteoarthritis, ankle-preserving procedures such as supramalleolar osteotomy and fibular osteotomy, as well as end-stage ankle replacement, are performed to effectively relieve pain and reconstruct ankle function.

5. Integrated Whole-Process Management of Sports Injuries

The department undertakes injury repair and event support for athletes in tennis, golf, short-distance and hurdling events, sailing, windsurfing, swimming, rugby, fencing, football, basketball, and other sports, and has established an integrated surgery-nursing-rehabilitation team model.

Physicians have been sent to Germany, Hong Kong, South Korea, Peking University Third Hospital, Xiangya Hospital, West China Hospital, Xi’an Honghui Hospital, and other locations for study. The department provides supervision and teaching for postgraduate students and interns from Qingdao University Medical College, Dalian Medical University, and other institutions, and undertakes standardized residency training. It has 1 master’s supervisor and 1 outstanding young medical and health professional of Qingdao. Its research direction is “Injuries and Degeneration of the Locomotor System.” It has received the Second Prize of the Provincial Natural Science Award, participated in multiple national- and provincial-level natural science foundation projects, published 19 SCI papers and more than 50 papers in core journals, and co-translated multiple international arthroscopy textbooks.

The department has established a multilevel training system of “sending staff out, inviting experts in, building platforms, and strengthening clinical practice.” Key personnel are regularly selected for further study at leading sports medicine centers at home and abroad, and are encouraged to attend high-level academic conferences and technical training courses. Coordinated training of medical, nursing, and rehabilitation staff is emphasized, and the integrated concept is reinforced. In recent years, the department has trained a group of young professionals with strong arthroscopic skills and research capabilities, initially forming a talent pipeline with a rational structure and clearly defined subspecialty directions.

Editing time: 2026/5/20 15:43:59