Sino-German Video Conference on Difficult Spinal Cases

From 16:00 to 18:00 on May 22nd, 2020, Guangdong Clifford Hospital and Hochtaunusklinken Bad Homburg v.d.H Germany held a Sino-German Spine Surgery video conference together. The video conference mainly focused on difficult cases discussions and it was led by CHU XiaoChao, Deputy President and Director of the Orthopedics Center at Guangdong Clifford Hospital, LIU Cheng, Director of the Minimally Invasive Orthopedics Department, and Dr. Daniel Rosenthal, Former President of the German Spine Society and Hochtaunusklinken Bad Homburg v.d.H Germany.

The Deputy President CHU XiaoChao delivered an opening address and briefly introduce the hospital to Dr. Daniel Rosenthal.He also hopes that the hospital could strengthen international exchanges and enhance the strength of international diagnosis and treatment through this Sino-German Spine Surgery Video Conference to better serve national health.

Afterwards, There comes the departments and hospital introduction session. Liu Cheng, Director of the Minimally Invasive Orthopedics Department, introduced the orthopedic center to Dr. Daniel Rosenthal.

Dr. Daniel Rosenthal. introduced the basic situation of Hochtaunusklinken Bad Homburg v.d.H Germany.

Director LIU also introduced 3 finished cases including MI treatment on benign tumor in cervical spine, decompression, fusion and fixation with bone cement and pedicle screws to treat spinal compression fracture previously with osteoporosis and incomplete paralysis and accurate diagnosis and MI treatment on complex diseases of affected lumbar disc. Dr. Rosenthal also agreed with the solutions and believed all procedures achieved good and satisfying results. Both parties were discussing some details during the treatment.

Later, Dr. Rosenthal shared a lecture named "The Concept of Target Surgery", introduced his insights on minimally invasive surgery and treatment options, and shared his experience of spinal surgery through pictures and videos.

Dr. Rosenthal cited the definition of “Minimally Invasive” from Prof. Wickham JE that minimal damage of biologic tissue at the point of entrance of surgical instruments so as to put forward his opinion, indicating minimal invasive spine surgery means minimal damage of biologic tissue at the point of entrance of surgical instruments at the spine.

In the lecture, he mentioned that maintaining stability is a new focus of spinal surgery. He believe that the ideal approach would provide the best solution for the patient, so the ideal procedure for the patient is the combination of maximal effectivity, low radiation exposure, minimal tissular lesion and stability restoration or improvement.

On top of that, the surgeon is suggested to be able to “look beyond” structures and circumvent unnecessary surgical steps, especially those related with the exposure and recognition of the topography.

In the “salad bowl” of all kinds of approaches, from Dr. Rosenthal’s view, it’s fine for surgeons to choose condition-based approaches according to patient’s willing.

The balance between the degree of invasivity, the achieved quality of treatment and stability is often difficult to define and related to several factors such as localization and type of disease, local soft tissue conditions, quality of the bone, age and wishes of the patient, available implants, experience of the surgeon, etc, he said.

Eventually, Dr. Rosenthal concluded that target surgery aims to minimize the approach related trauma on noble tissue and functional tissue while achieving optimal therapeutic results. It does not necessarily mean “percutaneous or tubular surgery“ but it certainly implies less extensile and disruptive procedures.

Director LIU Cheng concluded after the conference and thanked the organizer Guangzhou Gloryren Medical Technology Co., Ltd., and the lecturer Dr. Daniel Rosenthal. This video conference is of great significance to the academic development of the hospital, making our understanding of Sino-German spinal surgery more profound. Thanks to Dr. Daniel Rosenthal for showing us the technique, and we all hope to have the opportunity to conduct more in-depth exchanges in the future.

Guangdong Clifford Hospital was founded by Hong Kong patriotic entrepreneur Mr. Peng Phuji in 2001. It is the most famous private comprehensive hospital in China, which comprehensively focuses on medical treatment, medical teaching, scientific research and disease prevention. After nearly two decades of development, there are many highlights: First, its obstetrics owns a great reputation in China. Every year, there are more than families 6,000 from all over the country who come to seek help. Second, the outstanding trauma experts could complete the world's most difficult broken arm surgery and trauma surgery. Third, the excellent ER team well treats all kinds of patients with acute chest pain, stroke or critical illness. Fourth, with the guaranteed medical service quality, it is the only hospital in Guangdong that could provide six-language diagnoses serving patients in more than 100 countries around the world.