1月8日上午仁醫醫療3人團隊抵達慕尼黑哈拉興骨科醫院，訪問醫院業務院長、脊柱中心主任Mehren教授。Mehren教授剛剛結束手術，立刻趕來辦公室與我們會面。Mehren教授介紹：其脊柱中心的年手術量維持在2000臺左右，2024年也基本相同。雖然教授去年訪問中國時，發現中國患者數量多到需要在一個脊柱外科內分出4個下設科室。但是哈拉興骨科醫院的脊柱中心已經是全慕尼黑最大的脊柱中心，2000臺的年手術量也已經可稱之為大量。Mehren教授也向我們介紹了脊柱中心患者的術后康復。他表示，脊柱外科術后康復與髖膝關節術后康復不同。髖膝關節術后，患者需要進行肌肉鍛煉等康復項目。然而脊柱外科術后，手術部位需要長時間進行融合和恢復。所以此類患者適合靜養而非鍛煉。在慕尼黑哈拉興骨科醫院脊柱中心，普通的患者術后當天即可出院，回家休息療養。但如果有些患者因脊髓壓迫而出現四肢麻痹、無力等癥狀，則會被轉送到康復中心進行康復訓練。由于慕尼黑的康復中心價格昂貴，多數患者會被轉送到郊區的康復中心。Mehren教授2024年到鄭州市骨科醫院Zhengzhou Orthopedics Hospital擔任國際客座教授，7天的行程收獲滿滿。他也很高興看到中國醫院對脊柱顯微鏡下手術如此濃厚的學習興趣。他也非常期待今后再有機會來到中國訪問交流。

On the morning of Jan. 8th, a three-member team from Gloryren visited Schoen Klinik Muenchen Harlaching, and met with Prof. Mehren, the Deputy Medical Director of the hospital and the Director of the Spine Center Munich. Prof. Mehren had just finished a surgery and promptly came to the office to meet with us. Prof. Mehren said that the Spine Center maintains an annual surgical volume of about 2,000 cases, a figure expected to remain steady in 2024.While visiting China last year, Prof. Mehren observed that the number of patients in China was so high that there was a need to divide four sub-specialities within a single spine surgery department. Nevertheless, the Spine Center at Schoen Klinik Muenchen Harlaching, recognized as the largest in Munich, handles an annual surgical volume of 2,000 cases—a figure that can indeed be considered substantial. Prof. Mehren also elaborated on the post-op rehab of patients at the Spine Center to us. He noted that post-op rehab for spine surgery differs from that for hip and knee joint surgeries. After hip or knee surgeries, patients typically require rehab programs involving muscle strengthening and others. However, after spine surgery, the surgical site demands a prolonged period of fusion and recovery. Thus, such patients should have less mobility and rest well. At the Spine Center of Schoen Klinik Muenchen Harlaching, most routine cases are discharged on the same day of their surgery to recover at home. While patients with paralysis or weakness in their limbs due to spinal cord compression would be referred to a rehab center for further training. Given the high cost of rehab centers in Munich, most patients are referred to centers in suburban areas. In 2024, Prof. Mehren served as an international visiting professor at Zhengzhou Orthopedics Hospital, completing a fruitful seven-day trip. He was pleased to see the strong interest Chinese hospitals have in learning microsurgical techniques for spine surgery. And he looks forward to future opportunities to visit China for exchanges.