Breakthrough in Artificial Articulus Replacement in China ĦĦĦĦArtificial joint replacement began to be introduced into China by Dr. Lu Houshan of Joint Disease Center of Beijing University of Medical Science in the late '80s. After years' effort made at the center, Dr Lu and his colleagues have reached or even have surpassed the level of the US and some advanced European countries for treatment of deformed joint flexion and a longer effective period of use after operation. ĦĦĦĦStatistics show that in China there are over 40 million patients suffering from bone arthritis, with an incidence of 3%.For a comparatively low level of economic development and a lack of conditions for medical care arthritis treatment has long been kept in a backward state. Since introduction of artificial joint replacement in China hundreds of arthritics lying in bed can now stand up and walk on their legs. Doctors of the Center have also made some daring exploration in breaking through some "forbidden areas" considered by some foreign experts of the field. In the view of the latter, it is generally thought that knee joint flexion over 60 degrees, serious cases of osteoporosis or bone defects and muscle inertia are utterly incurable. But of patients cured by Lu Houshan the biggest of knee joint flexion comes to 120 degrees and the effective period of artificial joints used after operation reaches ten years. Most noticeable is that they performed operations for a simultaneous replacement of artificial hip, knee and ankle joints successfully, which has never been seen both in China and abroad. The Center has also its own artificial hip and knee joints developed. What is more, by artificial articulus replacement at the Center is simply meant a much cut cost than artificial joints imported. HomeNews 1999-02-12 Page5 Full Story in Chinese