On January 4, Sichuan Jinqiang Blue Whales against Jilin Northeast Tigers in the 22nd round of CBA regular season, and the foreign aid of Blue Whales, Hamed Haddadi, was brought to the court. In his round of attack, Haddadi made a pump fake followed by a dribble drive, but just the moment, the 2.18m player fell to the ground with a bang. The post-match injury report confirmed Haddadi with right Achilles tendon rupture, and people from all walks of life also expressed concern about his future athletic status.

Admission to our hospital three days after surgery and we attach great importance

Three days after injury, Haddadi was accompanied by his team doctor to the Affiliated Sport Hospital of CDSU, and the hospital attached great importance to it. A strong medical team was formed to provide surgical and rehabilitation support. Members of this medical team include Xiong Xiaoming, President and Chief Physician, Wang Qiang, Vice President and the Medical Consultant of Blue Whales, Cheng Jie, Director of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Dr. Song Weijun, Lei Mingming, Director of Sports Traumatology, Lu Huaimin, Director of Sports Rehabilitation, He Qi, Director of Anesthesiology as well as Prof. Tang Peifu and Prof. Chen Hua from PLA General Hospital.

Chief Physician Wang Qiang and Dr. Song Weijun admitted Haddadi

Since the patient is a professional athlete demanding in functional recovery of Achilles tendon, the choice of procedure greatly impacts his future athletic career. To reduce the impact of scar and adhesion on the athletic ability after traditional Achilles tendon repair surgery, improve the surgical effect and help the athlete return to the game as soon as possible, the medical team and Sichuan Basketball Association had rounds of discussions to compare rehabilitation outcomes of different procedures, and finally both sides decided to adopt CAMIR. This technique is invented by Prof. Tang Peifu, PLA General Hospital, and now it is maturely applied in the Affiliated Sport Hospital of CDSU.

Dr. Song Weijun prepares Haddadi for making braces

Discharged 2 hours after smooth surgery

On the morning of January 7, President Xiong Xiaoming, Prof. Chen Hua and the team made a pre-op discussion with Haddadi to express the key points of surgery and prognosis to ease his anxiety. And the hospital also fully coordinated the relevant departments to prepare for the operation.

Pre-op discussion

The third from the left, Xiong Xiaoming, President and Chief Physician of the Affiliated Sport Hospital of CDSU; the second from the right, Prof. Chen Hua, PLA General Hospital

As an athlete, Haddadi is a strongly built man and this brought a challenge to the anesthetic ventilation and positioning during surgery, but He Qi, Director of Anesthesiology and Zhang Li, Vice Director, successfully performed ultrasound-guided precise nerve block combined with light general anesthesia. Director Cheng Jie and Dr. Song Weijun assisted Prof. Tang Peifu and Prof. Chen Hua in the surgery. The 30-minute operation was performed through 2 small incisions of 2cm, using lengthened ultra-strong sutures, successfully preserving blood supply of Achilles tendon and finally repairing the rupture.

Director He Qi performs ultrasound-guided precise nerve block combined with light general anesthesia

The medical team performs surgery

From the left: Dr. Song Weijun, Director Cheng Jie, Prof. Chen Hua from PLA General Hospital

The team scheduled day surgery to ensure the patient gets proper rest. 2 hours after surgery, the patient was confirmed all vitals normal and monitored by the medical team 24 hours.

Haddadi poses a picture with the medical team after operation

With regard to the characteristics of CAMIR and the specific repair circumstance in surgery, the medical team together with Blue Whales improved the staged rehabilitation plan, preparing for Haddadi’s post-op rehabilitation in the Affiliated Sport Hospital of CDSU.

Wish Haddadi a speedy recovery and return to the game soon.

Introduction of the sports medical team of the Affiliated Sport Hospital of CDSU

The sports medical team of the Affiliated Sport Hospital of CDSU provides medical services for high-level sports teams in China. Since 2004, it has been the medical supporter of Chinese basketball team, safeguarding basketball players in every game. In Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Associate Prof. Luo Anmin and Dr. Li Yangyang served as team doctors of Chinese three-man basketball team.

The sports medical team of the Affiliated Sport Hospital of CDSU provides medical services for Chinese men's basketball team

Left: Zhang Meng, Chief Physician; upper right, Ye Ruibin, Chief Physician; bottom right, Wang Qiang, Chief Physician

The sports medical team of the Affiliated Sport Hospital of CDSU provides medical services for Chinese basketball team

From top to bottom: Associate Prof. Luo Anmin, Dr. Li Yangyang, Dr. Yang Lining

Chief Physician Wang Qiang, Dr, Shen Yun provides medical services for foreign players of Blue Whales, namely Justin Dentmon, Hamed Haddadi and Michael Harris in seasons 2015 to 2016

What’s more, the sports medical team of the Affiliated Sport Hospital of CDSU also provides medical services for summer events such as archery and shooting, gymnastics, diving, and winter events such as short track speed skating and speed skating. For now, there are more than 20 medical staff providing medical care to the team of athletes preparing for Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

In all, the Affiliated Sport Hospital of CDSU is always on the road to help develop competitive sports in China.