Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital National Center for Orthopedics

Short-term Fellowship Program in Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery

This two-week program focuses on key subspecialty areas of pediatric orthopedics, including developmental abnormalities of the pediatric bones and joints, pediatric trauma, pediatric spinal deformities, and correction of limb deformities. Through structured clinical training, surgical observation, teaching ward rounds, case discussions, and academic exchange, the program aims to establish an international platform for professional collaboration and promote the sharing of standardized diagnostic and treatment principles, as well as practical clinical experience.

Week 1: Orientation and Foundational Training

Day 1

In the morning, participants will be introduced to the department’s clinical team, development history, and major pediatric orthopedic subspecialties. In the afternoon, they will receive focused instruction on the standardized diagnosis and treatment of common pediatric orthopedic conditions and routine pediatric orthopedic surgical workflows. Participants will also meet with their designated supervisors to define the key learning objectives and daily schedule for the two-week program.

Day 2

Participants will attend the morning ward round and learn the standard procedures for preoperative assessment, postoperative physical examination, and rehabilitation guidance for pediatric patients. They will observe routine surgical procedures for pediatric limb fractures and relatively straightforward deformity correction.

Day 3

Following the morning ward round and preoperative case review, participants will observe procedures involving the repair of pediatric osteoarticular injuries and minimally invasive orthopedic techniques. They will also attend the department’s routine case conference to analyze diagnostic and therapeutic reasoning and engage in an initial exchange of experience in pediatric orthopedic practice.

Day 4

The morning ward round will focus on the perioperative management of pediatric spinal deformities. Participants will observe the correction of mild spinal deformities and related adjunctive procedures, while learning about early postoperative rehabilitation interventions and pediatric-specific rehabilitation protocols.

Day 5

Participants will attend the comprehensive morning ward round, with particular attention to complex and challenging inpatient cases. They will observe complex deformity correction procedures and participate in multidisciplinary consultations on difficult cases, gaining insight into diagnostic evaluation and surgical planning for complex pediatric orthopedic conditions.

Week 2: Advanced Exchange and Thematic Discussion

Day 1

Participants will attend the morning ward round and follow selected patients with severe spinal deformities. They will observe pediatric scoliosis correction surgery and take part in specialist question-and-answer sessions, with targeted instruction on key operative techniques and procedural considerations.

Day 2

Following the morning ward round and preoperative discussion of complex cases, participants will observe corrective surgery for congenital pediatric deformities, including developmental dysplasia of the hip and clubfoot. The session will include experience-sharing on surgical approaches, intraoperative challenges, and the prevention and management of postoperative complications.

Day 3

During the morning ward round, participants will review the postoperative recovery of selected patients. They will observe minimally invasive repair, precise reduction, and internal fixation procedures for complex and comminuted pediatric fractures. Instruction will focus on surgical techniques adapted to the characteristics of pediatric skeletal growth, followed by discussion of technical challenges and an exchange of clinical experience.

Day 4

The comprehensive morning ward round will cover a broad range of representative and complex cases. Participants may selectively observe key subspecialty procedures scheduled for the day. A concluding seminar on major complex cases encountered during the two-week program will then be held. Visiting international scholars will share their learning experiences, raise questions, and participate in professional discussion. The session will conclude with a structured review of the program’s principal academic content and key technical points.

Day 5

A concluding academic symposium will be held in the morning. Both parties will review the outcomes of the two-week exchange and discuss opportunities for long-term academic collaboration, remote case conferences, and reciprocal visiting programs. The international clinical observership program will then formally conclude.