Chongqing — For Alfonso, a Spanish athlete traveling in China, a severe pelvic fracture was a sudden and deeply frustrating setback. Yet a groundbreaking operation at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University transformed his ordeal into a compelling case study in the future of “smart medicine.”

The procedure was led by Shui Wei, Chief Physician of the hospital’s Orthopedics Department. Established in 1957, the department has grown from a regional clinic into a National Key Clinical Specialty and a leading municipal laboratory, placing the hospital at the forefront of China’s rapidly advancing medical robotics sector.

Shui’s team employed the Tianji II, a state-of-the-art, China-developed orthopedic surgical robot representing the cutting edge of precision medicine. Compared with traditional pelvic fracture surgery—often associated with long operative times and significant blood loss—the robotic system enables sub-millimeter accuracy and minimally invasive intervention.

“We used the Tianji Robot System for Mr. Alfonso’s pelvic fracture surgery,” Dr. Shui said in an interview. “The system combines preoperative 3D scanning with real-time navigation during the procedure. The robotic arm can accurately locate the fracture beneath the skin, allowing us to treat the bones through a very small incision.”

The results were striking. Alfonso was transferred to the hospital on Wednesday. By Friday, he was already sitting up and moving comfortably.

“I feel it’s crazy because I feel really good,” Alfonso said. “The doctor told me they used special robots, so there’s only a small incision. I was thinking, China is the future. It’s actually cool. I was surprised that just two days after the surgery, I had no pain.”

As Alfonso prepares to return to Spain, his rapid recovery marks a new milestone for Chongqing’s growing profile in international medical care. By combining decades of clinical experience with homegrown technological innovation, the hospital is not only treating patients—it is helping redefine the future of global healthcare.