Society

China hospital leads in spine microsurgery

By Shan Juan (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-09-14 17:32

Beijing - No need to cut the ribs, or open the thorax; no need to use one-lung-ventilation and get rid of the conditions resulting from various traditional big surgeries.

The trans-thoracic extra-pleural spine microsurgery performed by doctors at Shanghai Wooridul International Spine Hospital was recognized at a press conference Friday as one of the most developed and successful thoracic spine surgeries by specialists from China, Korea, the United States and Japan.

Byungjoo Jung, president of the hospital, said people in East Asia are prone to the spine disease, with about 300 million Chinese suffering from the disease. To overcome the serious thoracic spine disease, the traditional big surgery with screw fixation was really difficult and dangerous as the operation involves various important organs such as the thorax, lung, liver and kidney.

Wooridul Hospital carried out the world's first trans-thoracic extra-pleural spine microsurgery on July 27 and two more cases later. All three patients are now able to walk without assistance, and their conditions are improving every day. "After one or two years, their health can be fully recovered," said Jung.