Bangladeshi patient receives cervical disc surgery at SMU’s integrative hospital
After four months of neck and radiating arm pain, a patient underwent C6/7 disc removal, fusion and fixation on December 18.
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A Bangladeshi man with four months of neck, shoulder and left-arm pain underwent cervical disc surgery at Southern Medical University’s integrative medicine hospital. The account describes a C6/7 disc herniation compressing the spinal cord and nerves, followed by surgery and inpatient rehabilitation.
Persistent symptoms after treatment in Thailand
HAI, a pseudonym, developed neck and shoulder pain, particularly on the left, spreading down the upper arm and the outer forearm. Pain at night prevented restful sleep.
In Thailand, he was diagnosed with a herniated cervical disc and nerve-root compression. Pain-relief treatment and medication intended to support nerve function had not improved his symptoms. On a friend’s advice, he travelled to China.
After admission, Jiang Tiebin’s team completed detailed examinations and diagnosed cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. Its traditional Chinese medicine assessment classified his symptoms as neck impediment with qi stagnation and blood stasis.
C6/7 removal, fusion and fixation
On December 18, 2025, Jiang performed anterior C6/7 discectomy with interbody bone-graft fusion and internal fixation using the LUSE single-channel soft endoscopic technique developed by Li Qingchu’s team.
The technique provides an endoscopic view of the nerves and disc during removal of the herniated material. The operation took tens of minutes, with reported blood loss of 10 millilitres.
After surgery, HAI could get out of bed and move with protection from a neck brace. The hospital reported that radiating neck, shoulder and arm pain had largely disappeared at that stage.
Additional rehabilitation and early recovery
The nursing team also provided a traditional Chinese medicine programme. It included gourd moxibustion, a fire-dragon cupping treatment combining massage, moxibustion and scraping, and the herbal preparation Qiangjin Zhuanggu Wan.
Several days after surgery, the hospital reported improved neck and shoulder movement and better sleep. Before discharge, HAI presented a thank-you banner to the healthcare team.