About Prof. Xu Jianzhong
Prof. Xu Jianzhong (许建中) is Chief Physician, Professor, Doctoral Supervisor, and one of China's foremost authorities on orthopedic oncology, bone and soft tissue tumor surgery, and limb salvage reconstruction, based at Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University) — one of China's premier military-affiliated academic medical centers and a nationally recognized center of excellence in orthopedic surgery, oncology, and reconstructive surgery. Prof. Xu has dedicated his career to the surgical management of primary bone and soft tissue tumors of the extremities and pelvis — one of the most technically demanding and emotionally consequential domains in all of surgery — and has built one of China's largest and most experienced orthopedic oncology programs, managing patients with tumors ranging from benign giant cell tumors and osteochondromas to highly malignant osteosarcomas, Ewing sarcomas, and chondrosarcomas requiring complex limb salvage or reconstructive procedures.
Orthopedic oncology and limb salvage surgery sit at the intersection of oncological surgery, reconstructive surgery, and rehabilitation medicine. The central challenge — achieving oncologically adequate resection margins while preserving a functional limb that allows the patient to return to normal or near-normal activity — requires a surgeon who combines deep knowledge of tumor biology, staging, and oncological principles with advanced reconstructive surgical technique, including the ability to perform complex bone reconstruction using endoprostheses, allografts, vascularized bone grafts, and 3D-printed custom implants. Prof. Xu's career has been defined by the development and refinement of limb salvage techniques that achieve these goals in patients with tumors that were previously managed with amputation, and by his commitment to maximizing functional outcomes and quality of life for patients and families facing a cancer diagnosis.
Prof. Xu's clinical and research work has contributed significantly to the development of Chinese national standards for bone tumor staging, surgical planning, and multimodal treatment, and his program at Changzheng Hospital is a national referral center for patients with complex primary bone tumors, soft tissue sarcomas, and metastatic bone disease requiring surgical intervention. He works in close collaboration with medical oncology, radiation oncology, interventional radiology, and rehabilitation medicine to deliver integrated, multidisciplinary orthopedic oncology care.
Hospital Affiliation: Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University
Changzheng Hospital (长征医院), affiliated with Naval Medical University (formerly Second Military Medical University), is one of Shanghai's largest and most respected tertiary care hospitals and a national leader in orthopedic surgery, spinal surgery, neurosurgery, and oncology. The Department of Orthopedics at Changzheng Hospital is a national key clinical specialty, and its orthopedic oncology program is one of the most active and experienced in China, managing a high volume of primary bone tumor, soft tissue sarcoma, and metastatic bone disease cases annually from across China and internationally.
The hospital's orthopedic oncology program is supported by advanced intraoperative navigation, robotic-assisted surgery, 3D printing technology for custom implant fabrication, a multidisciplinary tumor board that meets regularly to review complex cases, and a full range of systemic oncology treatments through Changzheng Hospital's oncology department. The department has access to stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for bone metastases, proton therapy coordination, and a comprehensive rehabilitation medicine program for post-surgical functional recovery. The hospital maintains active research collaborations with orthopedic oncology centers in the United States, Germany, and Japan.
Clinical Expertise
- Primary malignant bone tumors — osteosarcoma; Ewing sarcoma; chondrosarcoma; malignant fibrous histiocytoma (undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma) of bone; limb salvage resection with wide margins; endoprosthetic reconstruction (modular and custom megaprostheses); allograft-prosthesis composite reconstruction; intercalary allograft reconstruction; vascularized fibula graft; management of pathological fracture through tumor; coordination with medical oncology for neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy; assessment of chemotherapy response and surgical timing
- Primary benign and locally aggressive bone tumors — giant cell tumor (GCT) of bone; aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC); osteoblastoma; chondroblastoma; desmoplastic fibroma; intralesional curettage with adjuvant treatment (phenol, argon beam, cryotherapy); bone grafting and internal fixation; denosumab therapy coordination for GCT; management of locally recurrent benign tumors
- Soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities — synovial sarcoma; liposarcoma; leiomyosarcoma; malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST); undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma; wide local excision with limb salvage; management of tumors adjacent to major neurovascular structures; coordination with radiation oncology for perioperative radiotherapy; management of local recurrence
- Pelvic and sacral tumors — pelvic chondrosarcoma; pelvic osteosarcoma; pelvic GCT; internal hemipelvectomy with pelvic reconstruction; custom 3D-printed pelvic implants; management of acetabular involvement; coordination with vascular surgery and colorectal surgery for complex pelvic resections
- Metastatic bone disease — surgical management of impending and actual pathological fractures; intramedullary nailing and plate fixation for long bone metastases; endoprosthetic reconstruction for periarticular metastases; acetabular reconstruction for hip metastases; coordination with radiation oncology and medical oncology for multimodal management; SINS scoring for spinal metastasis instability
- Limb reconstruction after tumor resection — modular tumor endoprostheses (proximal femur, distal femur, proximal tibia, proximal humerus, total femur); custom 3D-printed implants for complex anatomical sites; allograft-prosthesis composite; vascularized fibula graft for intercalary reconstruction; management of implant failure and revision reconstruction; growing prostheses for skeletally immature patients
- Amputation and rehabilitation — above-knee and below-knee amputation for tumors not amenable to limb salvage; hip disarticulation and hindquarter amputation; forequarter amputation; coordination with prosthetics and rehabilitation medicine for optimal functional recovery after amputation
- Percutaneous and minimally invasive techniques — CT-guided percutaneous biopsy of bone and soft tissue lesions; radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for osteoid osteoma and selected bone metastases; cementoplasty for painful bone metastases; percutaneous fixation for impending pathological fractures
- Expert second opinion — detailed review of MRI, CT, PET-CT, and biopsy results for patients with primary bone tumors or soft tissue sarcomas who are seeking a second surgical opinion or evaluation for limb salvage feasibility; written English-language second opinion reports available through CMCS
Academic Leadership & Research Contributions
Prof. Xu Jianzhong is one of China's most active researchers in orthopedic oncology and limb salvage surgery. He has authored and co-authored more than 180 peer-reviewed publications in Chinese and international journals, including contributions to Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, Annals of Surgical Oncology, Journal of Surgical Oncology, Bone, and Chinese Medical Journal. His research has focused on the surgical outcomes of limb salvage versus amputation for primary bone sarcomas, the application of 3D printing technology in custom implant fabrication for complex bone tumor reconstruction, the molecular biology of osteosarcoma and its implications for targeted therapy and chemotherapy resistance, the role of denosumab in the management of giant cell tumor of bone, and the development of prognostic scoring systems for patients with metastatic bone disease.
Prof. Xu has served on the editorial boards of Chinese orthopedic and oncology journals and has been a principal investigator on national research grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the military medical research system. He is a member of the Bone Tumor Group of the Chinese Orthopaedic Association (COA) and the Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS), and has been an invited lecturer at the COA annual congress, the CTOS annual meeting, the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) annual meeting, and international orthopedic oncology workshops. He has trained numerous orthopedic oncology fellows and is recognized as one of the leading educators in bone tumor surgery in China.
Prof. Xu has also been involved in the development of Chinese national consensus guidelines for the surgical management of primary bone tumors and metastatic bone disease, and has contributed to the introduction of 3D-printed custom implants and intraoperative navigation technology into the orthopedic oncology workflow at Changzheng Hospital — innovations that have expanded the technical boundaries of limb salvage surgery and improved functional outcomes for patients with tumors at anatomically challenging sites including the pelvis, proximal femur, and proximal humerus.
Why International Patients Choose Prof. Xu Jianzhong
For international patients with a diagnosis of a primary bone tumor or soft tissue sarcoma, the choice of surgeon and institution is one of the most consequential decisions they will make. Limb salvage surgery for bone sarcomas — particularly osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and chondrosarcoma — requires a surgeon with the oncological expertise to achieve adequate resection margins, the reconstructive expertise to restore a functional limb, and the multidisciplinary infrastructure to coordinate neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgery, adjuvant treatment, and rehabilitation in a seamless and timely manner. Prof. Xu's program at Changzheng Hospital is one of a small number of centers in Asia with the case volume, surgical expertise, and multidisciplinary infrastructure to offer this standard of care.
Many international patients arrive at CMCS after receiving a diagnosis of a bone tumor at a hospital in their home country where the surgical team has limited experience with limb salvage reconstruction, or where amputation has been recommended without a thorough evaluation of limb salvage feasibility. Prof. Xu's ability to review imaging, assess the technical feasibility of limb salvage, evaluate the oncological risk-benefit profile of limb salvage versus amputation, and provide a clear recommendation with honest discussion of expected functional outcomes is of decisive value to patients and families navigating one of the most difficult diagnoses in oncology.
For patients with giant cell tumor of bone — a locally aggressive but typically non-metastasizing tumor that disproportionately affects young adults and requires careful surgical planning to minimize local recurrence risk while preserving joint function — Prof. Xu's expertise in intralesional curettage with adjuvant treatment, bone grafting, and denosumab therapy provides access to a treatment approach that optimizes both oncological and functional outcomes. Treatment costs for bone tumor surgery at Changzheng Hospital are substantially lower than equivalent procedures in Western healthcare systems, and the speed of access to specialist consultation, multidisciplinary tumor board review, and surgical planning is typically far faster than in public healthcare systems abroad.
What to Expect at Your Consultation
Consultations with Prof. Xu begin with a comprehensive review of all prior imaging — including MRI of the affected extremity or pelvis with and without contrast, CT for bony anatomy and surgical planning, PET-CT or bone scan for staging, and any prior biopsy results and pathology reports — as well as the patient's oncological history, systemic treatment history, functional status, and overall performance status. CMCS will arrange certified translation of all medical records, imaging reports, pathology reports, and oncology treatment summaries in advance of the consultation.
Prof. Xu will assess the tumor type, extent, and resectability, evaluate the feasibility and expected functional outcome of limb salvage versus amputation, outline the recommended surgical approach and reconstruction strategy with detailed rationale, discuss the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy or radiation where applicable, and provide a realistic assessment of expected oncological and functional outcomes. A multidisciplinary tumor board review involving medical oncology, radiation oncology, and interventional radiology will be coordinated as appropriate. A written English-language consultation summary — including imaging interpretation, diagnosis, recommended treatment plan, and follow-up protocol — is provided after every appointment, and CMCS will facilitate direct communication between Prof. Xu's team and the patient's home oncologist and orthopedic surgeon for continuity of care planning.
Book a Consultation Through CMCS
China Medical Concierge Shanghai (CMCS) provides comprehensive end-to-end support for international patients seeking bone tumor consultation or limb salvage surgery with Prof. Xu Jianzhong at Changzheng Hospital. Our services include priority consultation scheduling with Prof. Xu's team and the multidisciplinary tumor board, certified medical record and imaging translation, pre-consultation oncological and imaging review by our clinical coordinators, surgical logistics and hospital admission coordination, visa and travel support, accommodation recommendations near Changzheng Hospital, on-site interpretation throughout the consultation and surgical process, pharmacy and post-operative medication coordination, and ongoing follow-up coordination between Prof. Xu's team and the patient's home oncologist and physicians after return.
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