Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital National Center for Orthopedics

Short-Term Fellowship Program in Sports Medicine

This two-week fellowship program focuses on the department’s areas of expertise in sports-related injuries and joint disorders of the shoulder and knee. Centered on common, frequently encountered, and complex cases, the program incorporates teaching rounds, observation of minimally invasive procedures, case-based discussions, and specialist academic exchanges. It aims to establish a platform for international academic collaboration, facilitate the exchange of advanced minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic practices, and enhance standardized care and comprehensive rehabilitation management for complex shoulder and knee injuries.

During the fellowship, participants will be fully integrated into the department’s clinical activities and will actively engage in daily ward rounds, preoperative assessment, surgical observation, and case discussions. Particular emphasis will be placed on arthroscopic techniques for the shoulder and knee, including arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, minimally invasive reconstruction for shoulder instability, arthroscopic decompression for subacromial impingement, meniscal repair and transplantation, cruciate ligament reconstruction, surgical correction of patellar instability, and arthroscopic release for complex knee injuries.

In-depth academic exchanges will be conducted on the diagnosis and treatment of challenging cases, key technical aspects of surgery, and perioperative management, thereby promoting efficient knowledge sharing and mutual advancement of clinical expertise.

Week 1: Orientation, Clinical Integration, and Foundational Skills Training

This week is designed to help fellows rapidly become familiar with the department’s clinical system and workflows, understand the diagnostic and therapeutic principles for common shoulder and knee disorders, and acquire foundational minimally invasive techniques, thereby establishing a solid basis for subsequent academic exchange and clinical learning.

Day 1: Departmental Orientation and Overview of the Clinical System

Upon arrival, fellows will attend a departmental orientation introducing the department’s academic development, subspecialty structure, distinctive minimally invasive techniques for shoulder and knee disorders, and key clinical strengths. Pre-fellowship training will cover diagnostic and treatment protocols for common conditions, standard arthroscopic workflows, preoperative assessment, and basic rehabilitation programs. Fellows will then be assigned to supervising physicians, with individual learning objectives and the two-week schedule clearly defined.

Day 2: Clinical Rounds and Foundational Diagnostic Training

Fellows will participate in morning teaching rounds and receive training in specialized physical examination for joint injuries, preoperative assessment, imaging interpretation, and postoperative rehabilitation guidance. They will observe basic arthroscopic procedures, including rotator cuff repair, arthroscopic decompression for subacromial impingement, and straightforward meniscal repair, with emphasis on surgical approaches and core technical steps.

Day 3: Case Discussion and Advancement of Routine Minimally Invasive Techniques

Preoperative case discussions will be conducted in the morning to clarify diagnostic reasoning and surgical planning. Fellows will observe routine minimally invasive procedures, including cruciate ligament repair and surgical correction of patellar instability. In the evening, they will participate in a departmental case review session, during which faculty members and fellows will exchange perspectives on the management of representative cases and share practical clinical experience.

Day 4: Focused Training in Perioperative Management

Training will focus on the refined perioperative management of degenerative shoulder disorders and chronic knee injuries. Fellows will learn the key principles of individualized preoperative planning, intraoperative risk control, and prevention of postoperative complications. They will observe surgical correction of shoulder instability and arthroscopic release for knee stiffness, while also studying individualized early rehabilitation strategies.

Day 5: Comprehensive Departmental Rounds and Initial Exposure to Complex Cases

Fellows will participate in comprehensive morning rounds and follow complex and challenging inpatient cases. They will observe expert-led procedures, including complex rotator cuff repair and repair or reconstruction for multiligament knee injuries. Fellows will also participate in multidisciplinary consultations for difficult cases and gain an initial understanding of diagnostic reasoning and surgical planning for complex joint injuries.

Week 2: Advanced Clinical Training and Thematic Academic Exchange

This stage focuses on advanced minimally invasive techniques and the management of complex cases. Through observation of technically demanding procedures, focused technical discussions, and thematic seminars, fellows will deepen academic exchange and explore opportunities for long-term collaboration.

Day 1: Follow-up of Severe Cases and Focused Study of Signature Procedures

During morning rounds, fellows will follow patients with severe shoulder or knee disorders and those experiencing complex postoperative recovery, reviewing the full course of diagnosis and treatment. During the day, they will observe the department’s signature minimally invasive reconstruction procedure for recurrent shoulder dislocation. Faculty experts will explain the critical steps of this technically demanding procedure and provide targeted answers to technical questions.

Day 2: Technical Exchange on Congenital Abnormalities and Chronic Injuries

Morning discussions will focus on challenging cases involving congenital joint developmental abnormalities and chronic ligament injuries. Fellows will observe technically demanding procedures, including correction of congenital joint deformities and reconstruction using residual tissue in chronic cruciate ligament injuries. Faculty members and fellows will exchange practical experience in overcoming surgical challenges and preventing long-term complications.

Day 3: Precision Minimally Invasive Treatment of Complex Injuries

The postoperative rehabilitation progress of patients undergoing complex procedures will be reviewed, and rehabilitation plans will be further optimized. Fellows will observe complex meniscal repair, meniscal transplantation, and minimally invasive reduction and internal fixation of complex knee fractures. They will study precision minimally invasive techniques tailored to different patient populations, with one-to-one expert guidance on key technical challenges.

Day 4: Comprehensive Review and Thematic Case Seminar

Fellows will participate in comprehensive departmental rounds and systematically review the diagnostic and therapeutic principles of representative and challenging cases encountered during the fellowship. Selected complex procedures may also be observed. In the afternoon, a thematic seminar will be held, during which fellows will share their learning experiences, engage in question-and-answer discussions with faculty members, and summarize the core technical achievements and clinical consensus developed throughout the program.

Day 5: Program Summary and Long-Term Collaboration Planning

Faculty members and fellows will jointly summarize the outcomes of the fellowship, highlighting key learning achievements in minimally invasive techniques, case management, perioperative care, and rehabilitation system development. The two sides will also formulate a long-term collaboration plan, establishing sustainable mechanisms for remote case discussions, technical exchange, reciprocal visits, and training of early-career physicians, thereby laying the foundation for continued academic and clinical cooperation.