Peking University Third Hospital Completes World's First Full-Process Digitally Assisted Surgery for Congenital Cervical Scoliosis

Background

Congenital cervical scoliosis is a rare deformity in which cervical vertebrae fuse or deform during fetal development. This can cause the head to tilt to one side shortly after birth, with the condition worsening over time and leading to facial asymmetry. Untreated cases risk neurological complications, compensatory spinal curves, and accelerated degeneration.

The orthopedics team at Peking University Third Hospital has accumulated experience treating this condition over 17 years. Sources report they have managed 136 cases, described as the largest treatment sample worldwide for this rare disease. Building on initial work by Professor Sun Yu, the team led by Professor Zhou Feifei established an original classification system specific to congenital cervical scoliosis and developed associated preoperative planning software. On August 4, 2026, this expertise was applied in what reports describe as the world's first full-process digitally assisted surgery integrating 3D reconstruction, virtual planning, individualized prosthesis design, screw path planning, and robotic assistance.

What was achieved

The procedure was performed on an 11-year-old boy from Henan province, referred to as Xiao Hang or Hanghang in reports, who had progressive head tilt and developing facial asymmetry. The surgery fully integrated the digital workflow from preoperative decision-making through intraoperative execution. It involved exposure and osteotomy of the deformed fused cervical segment, robotic-assisted placement of four fixation screws, and implantation of a custom-designed 3D-printed individualized distraction prosthesis.

Postoperative results showed significant improvement in head and neck alignment. The Cobb angle measuring the local deformity decreased from 17 degrees preoperatively to 4 degrees on follow-up imaging. The surgical effect matched the preoperative digital plan precisely. The patient was able to get out of bed and mobilize on the second day after surgery and was discharged on the seventh day. Reports note minimal intraoperative blood loss and no neurological injury. This case also represented the first application in China of spinal navigation robot technology to pediatric congenital bony cervical deformity.

How it works

The full-process digital approach starts with high-precision imaging, including CT and vascular studies, to generate a detailed three-dimensional model of the cervical bones, joints, deformed segments, and adjacent critical structures such as the vertebral artery and spinal cord. This model allows surgeons to visualize the anatomy accurately in a virtual environment.

Using team-developed planning software, different surgical options are simulated on the computer. The software analyzes the deformity characteristics based on the classification system, helps select the safest correction strategy that balances correction with preservation of neck rotation function, designs a patient-specific distraction prosthesis to fill the bone defect after osteotomy, and defines precise screw insertion paths. This avoids high-risk maneuvers, such as direct handling of abnormal bone tissue immediately adjacent to major vessels.

In the operating room, the deformed bone is exposed and osteotomy is completed according to the plan. A domestic spinal navigation robot then registers real-time intraoperative imaging with the preoperative 3D model. Acting similarly to a GPS navigation system, it guides a robotic arm to the predetermined positions, enabling precise placement of the cervical screws along the planned trajectories. The custom 3D-printed prosthesis is then implanted into the prepared defect site, allowing the tilted vertebrae to return to corrected alignment. The entire sequence ensures the intraoperative execution closely replicates the virtual plan.

What it means for international patients

Peking University Third Hospital operates an International Medical Service that provides one-stop outpatient and inpatient care for international patients. This includes specialist appointments, same-day advanced imaging where possible without special preparation, dedicated higher-standard wards, and support in languages including English, Korean, and Japanese. The hospital's orthopedics department, with documented extensive experience in complex cervical spine deformities, demonstrates capabilities in advanced 3D planning, custom prostheses, and robotic assistance for rare pediatric conditions.

International patients considering care for congenital cervical scoliosis or similar spinal deformities at the hospital should contact the International Medical Service directly. Eligibility, suitability for this specific full-process digital technique, and availability must be confirmed on a case-by-case basis, as reports describe this as an individualized application to a particular pediatric presentation. Sources do not provide details on broad applicability to adult cases or varying deformity severities.

About the hospital

Peking University Third Hospital, also known as PKU Third Hospital or Beiyi San Yuan, is located at 49 Huayuan North Road in Haidian District, Beijing. Founded in 1958, it is a comprehensive tertiary Class A hospital directly administered by the National Health Commission and affiliated with Peking University. It combines clinical care, teaching, research, prevention, rehabilitation, and health management, with more than 2,700 beds.

The hospital reported more than 5.9 million outpatient and emergency visits, approximately 198,000 inpatients, and 117,000 surgeries in 2025, with an average length of stay of 4.16 days. It maintains high performance in national assessments of tertiary public hospitals. Orthopedics and sports medicine are prominent strengths; the sports medicine institute is the only one designated by the Chinese Olympic Committee for athlete injury prevention and treatment. The hospital also hosts an International Medical Service offering targeted support for foreign patients and has been an official medical provider for major international events including the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.