Spinal Neurosurgery

The Department of Spinal Neurosurgery at Tianjin Huanhu Hospital is among the earliest centers in China to establish standardized diagnosis and treatment for spinal cord disorders and was the first in Tianjin to establish an independent spinal neurosurgery ward. Leveraging the hospital’s strong expertise in the neurosciences, the department specializes in the surgical diagnosis and treatment of a broad spectrum of spinal cord and spinal disorders and has established a leading position in China in the comprehensive management of complex spinal neurosurgical conditions.

With microsurgery as its core expertise, the department has also developed advanced minimally invasive techniques, including minimally invasive tubular approaches and spinal endoscopy. Specialized technologies, such as 3D-printed patient-specific internal fixation and intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM), are incorporated into surgical treatment to enhance neurological protection. Guided by the fundamental principle of preserving the spinal cord and nerve roots, the department is committed to improving surgical precision and safety while minimizing the risks of neurological disability and mortality.

The department provides comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of complex and challenging spinal disorders, including craniovertebral junction abnormalities, scoliosis, severe cervical spinal cord injury, spinal trauma, intraspinal tumors, spinal cord and vertebral tumors, spinal vascular malformations, congenital spinal deformities, and degenerative spinal conditions such as severe cervical and lumbar disc herniation and cervical and lumbar spinal stenosis.

Through years of clinical practice and technical development, the department has established a number of distinctive minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic techniques. These include minimally invasive resection of tumors extending both inside and outside the spinal canal, endoscopic transforaminal minimally invasive treatment of cervical and lumbar spinal disorders, and systematic diagnosis and treatment of neck, shoulder, and low back pain as well as various forms of refractory spinal pain. These minimally invasive approaches offer important advantages, including reduced surgical trauma, fewer postoperative complications, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery.

The department performs a large number of complex and high-risk spinal neurosurgical procedures each year. With a well-established microsurgical and minimally invasive treatment system and extensive expertise in complex spinal surgery, the department serves patients from across China, particularly those with challenging and complicated spinal disorders. Through its continued commitment to technological innovation, surgical excellence, and comprehensive patient care, the department has established a strong professional reputation and broad influence in the field of spinal neurosurgery in China.