Introduction

The Department of Joint Surgery at the National Orthopedic Center of Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital currently comprises 23 specialized physicians, with an authorized capacity of 117 beds and an actual capacity of 145 beds. It specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases around the hip, knee, shoulder, elbow, and ankle joints, performing over 8,200 surgeries annually. The volume of total hip and knee replacement surgeries has consistently ranked first in Shanghai and among the top nationwide. The quality of joint replacement surgeries is widely recognized by peers both domestically and internationally. 

Department Development 

The Joint Surgery team spans the Xuhui and Lingang campuses, consisting of 7 chief physicians, 7 associate chief physicians, 4 doctoral supervisors, 7 master’s supervisors, and 3 individuals in various talent development programs. The department continuously adopts new technologies and has developed the "Five No’s" accelerated rehabilitation concept—painless, bloodless, thrombus-free, inflammation-free, and tube-free—based on minimally invasive techniques and painless ward construction. Utilizing robotic-assisted joint replacement and other digital orthopedic technologies, the department has established a standardized approach to rapid recovery in total joint arthroplasty centered on minimally invasive, precise, and personalized care.

The department also manages an increasing number of complex primary joint replacement and revision cases from across the country. By introducing advanced technologies such as next-generation computer navigation, 3D-printed custom implants, and PSI (patient-specific instrumentation) guides, it has overcome many previously insurmountable clinical challenges, forming a unique digital-intelligence-driven approach. In March 2023, the department was designated as one of three “Digital Orthopedic Innovation Demonstration Centers” nationwide by the National Health Commission’s Capacity Building and Continuing Education Center.

Addressing periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), the most challenging complication in joint arthroplasty, the department has developed a comprehensive standardized diagnostic and treatment protocol over nearly 20 years. Its outcomes are nationally leading, and its expertise has been disseminated nationwide, spearheading the development of related guidelines to benefit more patients

International Collaboration 

he Joint Surgery Department maintains strong collaborative relationships with renowned international centers, such as the Rothman Institute in the United States and the Endo-Klinik in Germany. Each year, its physicians participate in major international academic conferences and exchanges. 

Academic Research 

The department emphasizes both clinical and basic research. Since 2012, it has published over 190 SCI papers and more than 20 articles in core Chinese journals, with the highest impact factor (IF) reaching 32.086; over 20 articles have an IF ≥ 15. Department members have served as editors or translators for 12 monographs and led the development of one professional guideline. Currently, the department is involved in over 10 provincial- and ministerial-level research projects, has filed more than 10 patents in the past five years, and has achieved patent commercialization valued at over 4.5 million yuan.

Teaching and Continuing Education 

Currently, the Joint Surgery Department at both Xuhui and Lingang campuses has 4 postdoctoral fellows, 11 doctoral students, and 3 master's students. As a training base for standardized residency training and orthopedic specialist training in Shanghai, the department annually accepts over 70 doctors for specialized training in orthopedic and joint surgery. Most senior staff have more than one year of overseas study experience, and each year, 2-3 doctors from the department are sent abroad for short-term training or further education.