When Bendito, a 60-year-old Tanzanian merchant, clutched a warehouse shelf in Dar es Salaam to steady himself against searing hip pain, he never imagined his upcoming business trip to China would trade goods for healing. In May 2025, at The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine (FAHZU), Bendito received a life-changing diagnosis and treatment, enabling him to walk pain-free—within only 24 hours after surgery.
For years, Bendito endured worsening right hip pain exacerbated by obesity and lifting heavy goods at his grocery shop. What’s worse, he was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in 2021. In Tanzania, where orthopedic resources are scarce—doctors could neither pinpoint his joint condition nor access the surgical risks combined with CML. Due to a lack of health technologies and equipment, conducting a surgery to Bendito was as unpredictable as migration of animals in the savannah, as a local doctor said.
Hope came from his Chinese business partner, Mr. HU. "FAHZU’s orthopedic team treats the complicated cases with the same precision as you select premium cashews!" HU advised. Full of hope, Bendito flew to Hangzhou with his family, caring medical reports alongside his procurement list at Yiwu.
Professor HU Yihe, Director of Orthopedics at FAHZU, diagnosed Bendito with severe femoral head necrosis using EOS imaging. "His femoral head resembles wood hollowed out by termites," he explained, recommending to conduct a total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, the dual challenges of obesity and CML made the surgery nothing short of “pitching a tent on thin ice".
After hematologists confirmed no significant progression of Bendito’s CML, FAHZU’s multidisciplinary team cleared him for surgery. Prof. HU replaced the necrotic femoral head with a ceramic-on-ceramic (CoC) joint—owing to its durability for patients with obesity and no loss of metal ions, minimizing any potential impact on CML. "Chinese efficiency is incredible! I trust you completely," Bendito said, praising Prof. HU’s team.
Despite the complexity of the surgery, Prof. HU’s expertise ensured a successful outcome. Bendito was able to walk with assistance the very next day—pain-free for the first time in years. Discharged from FAHZU within 3 days, he marveled: "Unbelievable! I have never imagined recovery could be this fast." Though preparing to return to Tanzania in June, he made a promise: "I’ll recommend more Africans to visit China. China’s medical prowess is truly world-class!"
This case highlights the exceptional medical expertise of FAHZU Orthopedics, which performs a full spectrum of complicated orthopedic surgeries. On our journey toward high-quality development, we are building a new international smart medical center, featuring minimally invasive techniques, intelligent systems, digitalized workflows, and personalized care. In recent years, the department of Orthopedics has integrated cutting-edge intelligent equipment, including the MAKO and ROSA surgical robots, along with the EOS full-body imaging system, facilitating the efficiency of diagnosis, and accuracy in delivering unprecedented surgeries.
