It is an unshirkable historical mission for Chinese researchers to achieve the strategic goal of building a strong science and technology power by 2035. Since the reform and opening-up, China has made significant progress in innovation and transformation. However, there still remain challenges such as insufficient vitality in the innovation ecosystem, dependence on foreign countries for key technologies, high research investment with low output, and a lack of sustained momentum in innovation transformation. The root of these issues lies a "Wall" on scientific and technological innovation and transformation of China. To break it down, it is essential to strengthen fundamental researches to tap into the "source of innovation", establish our confidence in science and technology, create "Chinese originality", promote interdisciplinary integration to expand the "blue ocean of innovation", identify key leverage points for transformation to achieve a "critical leap", improve institutional mechanisms and foster an "innovation-friendly ecosystem". Only with these measures, shall we break down the "Wall" blocking innovation and transformation in China!

The aging population and changes in the disease spectrum have contributed to an increasing number of chronic refractory wounds, which not only cause physical and mental pain to patients and diminish their life quality, but also place a heavy burden on both their families and the society. Clinical practice has proven that establishing wound repair department for specialized treatment of chronic refractory wounds can effectively enhance treatment outcomes. As a newly established tertiary surgical discipline, wound repair discipline in China has been in development for 5 years. The authors outlined the main difficulties encountered during the establishment of wound repair discipline and summarized the key issues over the past 5 years. To solve these difficulties, the authors reviewed measures and achievements in areas such as raising people′s awareness, building standardized wards, exploring the multiple models of discipline construction, advancing research-oriented discipline construction, defining the scope of treatment, striving for service projects and promoting establishment of specialized level IV surgical systems, formulating a series of consensus guidelines for standardized treatment, developing and translating new wound repair technologies, creating a talent education and training system, expanding academic exchanges and cooperation, as well as fostering the growth of high-level disciplines, so as to offer references to support ongoing advancement in the establishment of wound repair discipline.

Chronic pain following spinal cord injury refers to persistent or recurrent pain that occurs after spinal cord injury, which can be manifested as symptoms such as burning, stinging, and electric shock, seriously impairing the patients′ quality of life. Current conventional treatments for chronic pain after spinal cord injury include surgery, medication, and physical therapy. However, these treatments have limitations: surgery cannot fully repair nerve damage, medication has limited efficacy, and physical therapy often requires prolonged treatment with suboptimal outcomes. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS), as a neuromodulation technique, can relieve chronic pain in patients by stimulating spinal nerves by emitting weak current from electrodes placed around the spinal cord. SCS has been used to treat chronic pain after spinal cord injury, especially for refractory pain of the patients who fail to respond to conventional treatments, but its efficacy and exact mechanism remain to be further verified. To this end, this article reviewed the research progress of the efficacy and mechanism of SCS in the treatment of chronic pain after spinal cord injury so as to provide reference for its clinical treatment.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of cannulated screw internal fixation combined with quadratus femoris bone flap with preservation of the posterior superior retinaculum and cannulated screw internal fixation alone in the treatment of femoral neck fracture in young and middle-aged patients.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 83 young and middle-aged patients with femoral neck fracture admitted to the 920th Hospital of Joint Logistic Support Force of PLA from January 2018 to January 2023, including 56 males and 27 females, aged 28-55 years [(42.7±3.2)years]. According to Garden classification, the fractures were classified as type III in 22 patients and type IV in 61. Based on Pauwels classification, the fractures were classified as type I in 15 patients, type II in 38 and type III in 30. Forty patients were treated with cannulated screw internal fixation combined with modified quadratus femoris bone flap (cannulated screw combined with bone flap group) and 43 with cannulated screw internal fixation alone (cannulated screw group). The two groups were compared in terms of the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, time to weight-bearing, length of hospital stay, and wound healing. The visual analogue scale (VAS) scores and Harris hip function scores at 1, 3, 6, 12 months after surgery and at the last follow-up. The postoperative complication rate was detected.Results:All the patients were followed up for 20-70 months [(40.0±1.2)months]. The operation time and intraoperative blood loss were (105.2±2.7)minutes and (100.6±16.3)ml in the cannulated screw combined with bone flap group, which were longer or more than (92.4±4.7)minutes and (92.5±14.6)ml in the cannulated screw group ( P<0.01). The time to weight-bearing was (12.1±1.4)weeks in the cannulated screw combined with bone flap group, shorter than (23.6±1.2)weeks in the cannulated screw group ( P<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the length of hospital stay between the two groups (P>0.05). The incisions in both groups were healed by first intention. At 1 month after surgery, no statistically significant difference was observed in VAS scores between the two groups ( P>0.05); at 3, 6, 12 months after surgery and at the last follow-up, the VAS scores were (6.6±0.2)points, (4.5±0.3)points, (3.2±0.5)points, and (2.6±0.4)points in the cannulated screw combined with bone flap group, lower than (7.0±0.1)points, (5.2±0.2)points, (3.9±0.4)points, and (3.3±0.1)points in the cannulated screw group ( P<0.05 or 0.01). At 1 and 3 months after surgery, no statistically significant difference was observed in the Harris hip function scores between the two groups ( P>0.05); at 6, 12 months after surgery and at the last follow-up, the Harris hip function scores were (82.2±1.7)points, (90.0±1.4)points, and (91.6±1.0)points in the cannulated screw combined with bone flap group, higher than (75.2±1.7)points, (83.4±1.9)points, and (85.2±0.7)points in the cannulated screw group ( P<0.01). At the last follow-up, in the cannulated screw combined with bone flap group, the Harris hip function was rated excellent in 32 patients, good in 5, and fair in 3, with an excellent and good rate of 92.5%, while in the cannulated screw group, the Harris hip function was rated excellent in 20 patients, good in 13, and fair in 10, with an excellent and good rate of 76.7% ( P<0.05). The postoperative complication rate was 5.0% (2/40) in the cannulated screw combined with bone flap group, significantly lower than 23.2% (10/43) in the cannulated screw group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared with cannulated screw internal fixation alone, cannulated screw internal fixation combined with quadratus femoris bone flap with preservation of the posterior superior retinaculum has the advantages of earlier weight-bearing, less pain, better recovery of hip joint function, and lower incidence of postoperative complications in the treatment of femoral neck fracture in young and middle-aged patients, despite longer operation time and more intraoperative blood loss.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of the transverse process-lateral pedicle approach and curved vertebroplasty in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF).Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 66 patients with OVCF admitted to the Second People′s Hospital of Hefei from December 2021 to June 2023, including 9 males and 57 females aged 60-89 years [(75.6±7.5)years]. The injured segments included T 11 in 17 patients, T 12 in 17, L 1 in 17, and L 2 in 15. Among them, 33 patients underwent vertebroplasty via the transverse process-lateral pedicle approach (lateral approach group), while other 33 patients underwent curved vertebroplasty (curved group). The surgical duration, number of X-ray fluoroscopy, bone cement injection volume, and length of hospital stay were compared between the two groups. Additionally, the restoration efficiency of vertebral height and the correction degree of spinal scoliosis Cobb angle at 2 days postoperatively were compared between the two groups. The changes in serum levels of stress factors including noradrenaline, adrenaline, and cortisol preoperatively and at 2 days postoperatively, the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) preoperatively, at 2 days, 6 months postoperatively, and at the last follow-up were compared between the two groups. The incidence of complications was assessed in the two groups. Results:All the patients were followed up for 12-14 months [(13.2±0.5)months]. The surgical duration and number of X-ray fluoroscopy in the lateral approach group were (30.9±4.1)minutes and (5.9±3.3)times, which were significantly lower than (35.8±3.9)minutes and (9.9±4.4)times in the curved group ( P<0.01). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of bone cement injection volume, length of hospital stay, restoration efficiency of vertebral height at 2 days postoperatively, or the correction degree of spinal scoliosis Cobb angle ( P>0.05). The levels of noradrenaline, adrenaline, and cortisol at 2 days postoperatively were (57.3±4.8)ng/ml, (49.9±4.2)ng/ml, (159.3±20.5)nmol/L in the lateral approach group, and (64.3±4.5)ng/ml, (58.3±4.4)ng/ml, (183.5±21.2)nmol/L in the curved group, which were all significantly increased compared with those preoperatively [(42.3±3.5)ng/ml, (38.5±2.8)ng/ml, (128.4±12.3)nmol/L in the lateral approach group and (42.0±3.5)ng/ml, (39.0±3.0)ng/ml, (128.5±12.3)nmol/L in the curved group] ( P<0.01). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of the levels of noradrenaline, adrenaline, and cortisol preoperatively ( P>0.05). The levels of noradrenaline, adrenaline, and cortisol at 2 days postoperatively in the lateral approach group were significantly lower than those in the curved group ( P<0.01). The VAS scores for low back pain in the lateral approach group and the curved group were 3(2, 5)points and 5(3, 6)points at 2 days postoperatively, 3(2, 4)points and 3(2, 4)points at 6 months postoperatively, and 2(2, 3)points and 2(2, 4)points at the last follow-up, which were all significantly lower than those preoperatively [7(7, 9)points and 8(6, 9)points] ( P<0.05). Moreover, the VAS scores for low back pain were further decreased over time postoperatively ( P<0.05). The ODI values in the lateral approach group and curved group were (33.4±4.4)% and (33.7±4.3)% at 2 days postoperatively, (23.8±1.6)% and (23.8±1.7)% at 6 months postoperatively, and (15.6±0.9)% and (15.6±0.9)% at the last follow-up, which were all significantly lower than (67.4±4.3)% and (67.5±4.3)% preoperatively ( P<0.05). Moreover, the ODI values were further decreased over time postoperatively ( P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of the VAS scores for low back pain or ODI values preoperatively, at 2 days, 6 months postoperatively or at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). The complication rate was 12.1% (4/33) in the lateral approach group, which was significantly lower than 51.5% (17/33) in the curved group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Although both the transverse process-lateral pedicle approach vertebroplasty and the curved vertebroplasty can achieve good therapeutic effects in the treatment of OVCF, the former has shorter surgical duration, fewer times of X-ray fluoroscopy, lower trauma stress levels at 2 days postoperatively, and fewer complications.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of biplanar fixation combined with bone grafting and proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA) in the treatment of critically complicated osteoporotic intertrochanteric femoral fracture .Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 28 patients with critically complicated osteoporotic intertrochanteric femoral fracture, admitted to Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January 2020 and December 2022, including 3 males and 25 females, aged 70-91 years [(79.4±6.3)years]. T score for bone mineral density was -2.5~-4.1 SD［（-3.3±0.6）SD］. All the patients were found with type A2.2-A3.3 fracture based on AO classification, and were complicated with trochanteric lateral wall fracture. Among them, 16 patients underwent biplanar fixation combined with bone grafting (biplanar fixation group), while 12 underwent PFNA internal fixation (PFNA group). All the patients received anti-osteoporosis therapy after surgery. The two groups were compared in terms of the operative time, intraoperative blood loss, hemoglobin levels at 3 days postoperatively, and time to weight-bearing. The visual analogue scale (VAS) scores and Harris hip scores at 1, 3, 6 months postoperatively, and at the last follow-up and the incidence of complications were also detected in the two groups.Results:All the patients were followed up for 12-16 months [(14.1±1.4)months]. In the biplanar fixation group, the operative time was (75.1±15.3)minutes, significantly longer than (45.6±14.2)minutes in the PFNA group ( P<0.01); the intraoperative blood loss was (234.1±11.8)ml, significantly more than (170.0±13.4)ml in the PFNA group ( P<0.01); the hemoglobin level at 3 days postoperatively was (82.6±9.3)g/L in the biplanar fixation group, higher than (64.8±6.8)g/L in the PFNA group ( P<0.01). The time to weight-bearing was (1.1±0.7)weeks in the biplanar fixation group, significantly shorter than (3.2±1.2)weeks in the PFNA group ( P<0.01). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in VAS scores and Harris hip scores at 1, 3, 6 months postoperatively, and at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). The VAS scores and Harris hip scores in the two groups were gradually improved with the prolongation of postoperative time ( P<0.05 or 0.01). No complications such as neurovascular injuries were observed in either group. One patient in the biplanar fixation group developed lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT), with a complication rate of 6.3%, while 2 patients in the PFNA group developed lower extremity DVT and 4 hypostatic pneumonia, with a complication rate of 50.0% ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared with PFNA internal fixation, biplanar fixation with bone grafting has the advantages of less postoperative blood loss, earlier weight-bearing exercises and lower incidence of complications in the treatment of critically complicated osteoporotic intertrochanteric femoral fracture, despite longer operative time and more intraoperative blood loss.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of inverted triangular and equilateral triangular cannulated screw internal fixation (CSIF) in the treatment of femoral neck fracture (FNF) in young and middle-aged patients.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 52 patients with FNF admitted to Qingdao Central Hospital of Rehabilitation University from January 2020 to January 2022, including 18 males and 34 females, aged 28-60 years [(45.7±9.3)years]. Based on the Garden classification, the fractures were classified as type I in 11 patients, type II in 34, and type III in 7. According to Pauwels classification, the fractures were classified as type I in 33 patients, type II in 13, and type III in 6. Among them, 28 patients received inverted triangular CSIF (inverted triangle group) and 24 received equilateral triangular CSIF (equilateral triangle group). Before surgery and at 3 months after surgery, nuclear medicine three-phase bone scan and bone tomography imaging were performed to evaluate the proximal blood supply recovery in the fractured sites in the two groups. The Harris hip joint function scores before surgery, at 1 day, 3 months after surgery, and at the last follow-up, the posterior tilt angles of the femoral head before surgery and at 3 months after surgery, and the fracture nonunion rate and ischemic necrosis rate of the femoral head at the last follow-up were compared between the two groups.Results:All the patients were followed up for 18-30 months [(24.2±5.6)months]. Before surgery, the fracture of both groups showed extensive blood supply defects at the proximal end. At 3 months after surgery, the excellent and good rate of the proximal blood supply recovery in the inverted triangle group was 92.9% (26/28), significantly higher than 70.8% (17/24) in the equilateral triangle group ( P<0.05). The Harris hip joint function scores before surgery were (44.1±4.1)points and (43.5±5.1)points in the inverted triangle group and equilateral triangle group ( P>0.05). At 1 day, 3 months after surgery, and at the last follow-up, the Harris hip joint function scores in the inverted triangle group were (71.7±3.6)points, (87.0±3.6)points, and (88.7±2.6)points respectively, higher than those in the equilateral triangle group [(65.0±5.4)points, (80.5±5.2)points, and (82.6±4.0)points] ( P<0.05). In both groups, there were no significant differences between the Harris hip joint function scores at the last follow-up and those at 3 months after surgery ( P>0.05), which were all higher than those at 1 day after surgery ( P<0.05). The posterior tilt angles of the femoral head were (16.9±4.4)° and (16.8±5.0)° in the inverted triangle group and equilateral triangle group preoperatively ( P>0.05). At 3 months after surgery, the posterior tilt angles of the inverted femoral head were (8.9±1.9)° and (9.0±1.8)° in the inverted triangle group and equilateral triangle group ( P>0.05). The posterior tilt angles of the femoral head at 3 months after surgery were lower than those before surgery in both groups ( P<0.05). At the last follow-up, there were no statistically significant differences in the fracture nonunion rate and ischemic necrosis rate of the femoral head between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Compared with equilateral triangle CSIF, inverted triangle CSIF achieves better recovery of the proximal blood supply and hip joint function in the treatment of femoral neck fracture in young and middle-aged patients.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of whole-process visualization system-assisted pedicle screw internal fixation and free-hand pedicle screw internal fixation in the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fracture (TLBF) without neurologic symptoms.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 64 patients with TLBF without neurologic symptoms admitted to Zhengzhou Orthopedic Hospital from December 2020 to October 2022, including 41 males and 23 females, aged 23-52 years [(42.1±6.6)years]. The injured vertebrae involved T 11 in 26 patients, T 12 in 17, L 1 in 12, and L 2 in 9. The Wiltse approach was used in all the patients, 31 of whom were treated with pedicle screw internal fixation assisted by the whole-process visualization system (visualization system-assisted screw placement group) and 33 of whom were treated with free-hand pedicle screw internal fixation (free-hand screw placement group). The two groups were compared in terms of operation time, single screw placement time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative total radiation dose and total length of hospital stay. The accuracy of pedicle screw placement and penetration rate of the pedicle cortex were evaluated in the two groups. The Cobb angle and lumbar visual analogue scale (VAS) before surgery, at 1 week, 3 months after surgery and at the last follow-up were compared between the two groups. The incidence of postoperative complications was also investigated. Results:All the patients were followed up for 10-33 months [(17.5±4.8)months]. The operation time was (106.9±11.8)minutes in the visualization system-assisted screw placement group, shorter than (121.3±11.4)minutes in the free-hand screw placement group ( P<0.01). The single screw placement time was (9.1±1.0)minutes in the visualization system-assisted screw placement group, shorter than (11.7±1.5)minutes in the free-hand screw placement group ( P<0.01). The total radiation dose was (10.4±2.4)mGy in the visualization system-assisted screw placement group, lower than (51.8±7.2)mGy in the screw placement group ( P<0.01). There was no significant difference in intraoperative blood loss or total length of hospital stay between the two groups ( P>0.05). The accuracy of pedicle screw placement was 96.6% (197/204) in the visualization system-assisted screw placement group, significantly higher than 89.3% (191/214) in the free-hand screw placement group ( P<0.01). Both groups showed significant improvements in Cobb angle and VAS scores at 1 week, 3 months after surgery, and at the last follow-up ( P<0.05). There were no significant differences in Cobb angle or VAS scores between the two groups at each time point ( P>0.05). In the visualization system-assisted screw placement group, one patient had incision infection at 4 days after operation, which was cured with antibiotics. One patient in the free-hand screw placement group developed the symptoms of nerve root irritation at 2 days after surgery, which disappeared at 7 days after revision. There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups ( P>0.05). During the follow-up, no patients had broken screws, loosening of internal fixation, or loss of correction in either group. Conclusions:Compared with free-hand pedicle screw internal fixation, the whole-process visualization system-assisted pedicle screw internal fixation in the treatment of TLBF without neurologic symptoms can shorten the time of operation and screw placement, reduce the radiation dose, and improve the accuracy of pedicle screw placement, suggesting that it is a safer and more effective auxiliary method for pedicle screw placement.

The construction of the discipline system of trauma medicine with Chinese characteristics is a continuous process of development and improvement. In the paper, the author discussed the eight aspects concerning further promotion of the construction of the discipline system of trauma medicine with Chinese characteristics including the construction of the discipline system, development of trauma care procedure, institutional construction of the specialty of clinical trauma care, cultivation of innovative talents, breakthrough of traditional concepts and innovation of first-aid theories, improvement of rescue technology and equipment development capabilities, efficient transformation of trauma care achievements, nationwide trauma care training and regular first-aid exercises, aiming to provide reference for construction of the discipline system of trauma medicine with Chinese characteristics.

The combat trauma medicine in China was originated in the era of the revolutionary war and has been an important component of the practice of people′s wars. Over the past 70 years since the founding of the People′s Republic of China, combat trauma medicine in China has evolved through four stages of development: a difficult start, military-civilian collaboration, innovation driven progress, and comprehensive improvement. A relatively complete theoretical and technological system as well as a comprehensive rescue and treatment system including medical rescue, trauma centers, regional trauma treatment systems, wound repair departments, etc, have been established. The field also boasts a series of national-level scientific and technological innovation platforms, such as national key laboratories, national medical centers, and national emergency medical rescue bases, which all strongly contributes to "the Peaceful China initiative". The author reviewed the development process of combat trauma medicine in China, emphasizing the need to stand at the forefront of the discipline and focus on national needs and continuing to promote high-quality development of combat trauma medicine, which will play a strategic supporting role in advancing the construction of "the Peaceful China initiative" at a higher level in the new era.