Peking University, February 16, 2022: In National Alpine Skiing Center and National Sliding Center, more than 20 kilometers away from Peking University Third Hospital Yanqing Hospital, athletes from all over the world are racing on the ski tracks. As the “jewel in the crown” of the Winter Olympics, giant slalom and downhill in alpine skiing are absolutely splendid but dangerous as well. For example, the speed of the skeleton can reach a maximum of 130 km/h. According to previous statistics, the injury probability of the above three events is 14%. Every turn and leap athletes make to challenge themselves is also accompanied by danger, and a tiny mistake may cause serious damage to the body.


Peking University Third Hospital Yanqing Hospital is the only designated hospital in the Yanqing competition area. The hospital has a Winter Olympics Medical Security Center that is ready to undertake medical security tasks for multiple regions. Before the games, more than ten personnel have been treated successfully. With the official start of Beijing 2022 Olympics, there have been several traumatic diseases of athletes that have been accurately diagnosed and treated by the teams. Many international friends have expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Center’s medical staff for their professional devotion over the last few days.

“Thank you for letting me back on the field!”

On February 4, a news report on Polish luger Mateusz Sochowicz entitled “Nothing is impossible: Injured Polish luger makes Olympics” was published.

Mateusz, who has recovered from his injury, will represent Poland in the luge men’s singles at Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. However, just less than 3 months before the opening ceremony, Mateusz was accidentally injured in the pre-Games test match, resulting in patella fractures on his legs. For athletes, this could mean that years of training will come to nothing.


That afternoon, Mateusz was promptly sent to Peking University Third Hospital Yanqing Hospital. Dean Zhou Fang, as the chief expert in trauma, personally directed the operation, together with Dr. LuYang, the leader of the Winter Olympics medical security center, who performed a fixation operation for Mateusz’s knee fracture.


After the operation, I told him that he could return to the Winter Olympics”, Dean Zhou Fang recalled that apart from a successful operation, the team also customized a rehabilitation treatment plan for Mateusz to encourage him to return to the competition, “We’ve done our best. With advanced technology, the patients could recover faster, resume training earlier, restore function in a short period of time and maintain competitive levels in their athletes’ career.”


In January 2022, Mateusz returned to China after an arduous recovery to continue his preparation for the Winter Olympics. On the eve of Chinese New Year, he came to Peking University Third Hospital Yanqing Hospital for the second time for a post-operative review to ensure that he could re-enter the competition. Mateusz said, “The Chinese doctor is so great! Thank you all for letting me return to the game.” Mateusz met his chief surgeon, Lu Yang, and they chatted and laughed freely, wishing each other well. On February 5, Mateusz successfully completed his competition at Beijing 2022 Olympics.


Mateusz was very satisfied with the treatment and kept in touch with Lu Yang. After his return to Poland, he repeatedly praised the high-level medical skills of Chinese medical staff on his personal social media.


“The best medical team!”

At 9 p.m. of February 7, the first day of the Yanqing completion area, an Austrian luger was transferred to Peking University Third Hospital Yanqing Hospital for his forearm that was hurt during his practice. Originally, he thought it was just an ordinary fracture and expected a simple plaster cast before departure. However, two small bleeding holes were found in consultation followed by a diagnosis of both an open wound and multiple fractures, requiring urgent surgery. Through efficient communication with the athlete and his personal doctor, the surgical plan was discussed in detail and further performed by the surgical team led by Dean Zhou Fang and Dr. Lu Yang.


On the morning of February 8, Karl Stoss, the president of Austrian Olympic Committee came to Peking University Third Hospital Yanqing Hospital and visited the injured athlete. He gave high praise to the medical staff. The Austrian team doctor also gave a thumbs up upon seeing the X-ray report of a successful fracture reduction, indicating that there was no need to return to Austria for a second treatment.


“Thank you Chinese medical staff!”

On the afternoon of February 8, an American alpine skier sustained a leg fracture during a huge competition. After being sent to Peking University Third Hospital Yanqing Hospital, Chief surgeon Lu Yang communicated the three surgical options with the team doctors of the athlete while anesthesiologists and nursing staff quickly prepared all kinds of orthopedic equipment in the operating room. When the plan was validated, the trauma team swiftly debrided and stabilized the patient's fracture.


After the operation, the athlete and her team doctors expressed their affirmation and gratitude towards the medical staff who participated in the treatment. The athlete wrote on her social media, “I want to say thank you to everyone who’s taken care of me, especially those who rushed to me in the finish and my doctors and nurses in Yanqing.”


Since January 21, 2022, the Winter Olympics medical security team of Peking University Third Hospital Yanqing Hospital has been treating new patients practically every day. Receiving the text message from patients, despite the fact that they are just a few words long, is the most gratifying experience for all members of the team.

Written by: Fu Jiaqi
Edited by: June Tan Rui Min, Hu Shaocong
Source：Peking University Third Hospital (Official Wechat)