China's Top Departments: Burn & Trauma Surgery at Changhai Hospital (Naval Medical University)
Led by CAE Academician Xia Zhaofan, Changhai Hospital's Burn & Trauma Center is a National Key Discipline and one of the world's leaders in extensive deep burn management — surpassing the '80% TBSA' survival threshold once considered the limit. Here's what international patients should know.
If you or a loved one has suffered severe burns — whether from fire, chemical exposure, electrical injury, or scalding — Changhai Hospital's Burn & Trauma Center is one of the most experienced centers in the world. This is the department that was among the first globally to surpass the "80% TBSA" (total body surface area) survival threshold — a milestone once considered the absolute limit by Western burn medicine.
Led by CAE Academician Prof. XIA Zhaofan — the first National Outstanding Youth Fund recipient and Changjiang Scholar in China's burn surgery field — the center is a National Key Discipline, the President Unit of the Chinese Medical Association Burn Surgery Branch, and holds an executive position in the International Society for Burn Injuries (ISBI).
The center has been at the forefront of China's major disaster medical response, successfully managing 30+ mass casualty events including the Kunshan factory explosion and the Shanghai "11·15" high-rise fire. This is where the most complex, critical burn cases in China are referred.
At ChinaMed Select, we help international patients connect with Changhai's burn team for severe burn treatment, complex wound repair, and scar management. Here's what you need to know.
Signature Strengths
Extensive Deep Burn Treatment — World-Leading
Changhai's burn team is world-leading in managing extensive deep burns. The department was among the first to systematically surpass the "80% TBSA" survival barrier — meaning patients with burns covering more than 80% of their body, once considered unsurvivable, have been successfully treated here.
What this means for you: If your loved one has suffered catastrophic burns covering a large percentage of their body, this team has the experience and protocols to offer hope in cases where other centers may not.
Wound Repair & Critical Care
The center has developed new specialties in:
- Complex non-healing wounds: Pressure ulcers, bedsores, frostbite damage, and chronic wounds that haven't responded to other treatments
- Critical care medicine: Advanced ICU support for burn shock, sepsis, and multi-organ complications
- Multiple/complex trauma: Combined injuries requiring coordinated surgical intervention
The department's 17 state-of-the-art burn/trauma ICU beds provide critical care for the most severe cases.
Scar Management — Systematic Approach
Burn survival is only the first step — quality of life depends on effective scar management. The center offers systematic scar treatment featuring:
- Fractional CO₂ laser therapy with excellent cosmetic and functional outcomes
- Surgical scar revision for functional impairment
- Comprehensive rehabilitation programs
Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Model
The center operates an integrated burn-trauma MDT model coordinating:
- Hematology
- Laboratory medicine
- Blood transfusion services
- Anesthesiology
- Other critical care specialties
What this means for you: Complex burn cases often involve multiple organ systems. The MDT approach ensures every aspect of your care is coordinated by specialists working together — not in isolation.
Meet the Experts
| Name | Role | What Matters for Your Care |
|---|---|---|
| Prof. XIA Zhaofan 🏅 | Academician, Chinese Academy of Engineering | Academic Leader. Changjiang Scholar Distinguished Professor. President of Chinese Medical Association Burn Surgery Branch. ISBI Executive Member. Led over 20 national projects. 1 National First-Class Science & Technology Progress Award + 2 Second-Class Awards. If you have the most severe burns, this is the academic leader at the top. |
| Prof. BEN Daofeng | Senior Specialist | Expert in complex non-healing wounds (pressure ulcers, frostbite), burn and scar treatment. |
| Prof. TANG Hongtai | Deputy Director, PLA Burn Research Institute | Burn treatment, non-healing wounds, soft tissue repair. |
| Prof. ZHU Shihui | Senior Specialist | Severe burn emergency management, shock resuscitation, wound management, late-stage scar treatment. |
| Prof. XIAO Shichu | Executive Director, Burn & Trauma Center | Complex wound repair. |
The department has 5 Chief Physicians/Professors and 6 Associate Chief Physicians/Associate Professors — a concentrated team of burn surgery experts.
Research That Saves Lives
The center's research directly translates to better patient outcomes:
- 30+ National Grants including NSFC key projects and National Science & Technology Support Program
- 20+ top-tier awards including the National First-Class Science & Technology Progress Award, 16 provincial/ministerial awards, 8 national invention patents
- 100+ SCI-indexed papers
- Key Platform: PLA Key Laboratory of Shock & Organ Injury Prevention — researching how to prevent organ failure in severe burn patients
The department also serves as one of China's first doctoral and master's degree programs in burn surgery, with a postdoctoral research station and Ministry of Education Innovation Team — training the next generation of burn surgeons.
A Legacy of Disaster Response
The Burn & Trauma Center has been at the forefront of China's major disaster medical response:
- Kunshan "8·2" factory explosion — mass casualty burn treatment
- Shanghai "11·15" high-rise fire — critical burn rescue
- Chemical explosions, traffic accidents, and other mass casualty events
- Successfully managed 30+ major emergency responses with excellence recognized by all levels of government
This disaster response experience means the team can rapidly scale up capacity and coordinate complex care when needed — a critical capability for severe burn patients.
What International Patients Should Know
Language & Support
Changhai Hospital is a major academic medical center. English-language consultations can be arranged. For burn care — where precise communication about wound care, pain management, rehabilitation, and long-term outcomes is critical — we strongly recommend working with a bilingual medical coordinator.
Appointment Process
- Appointments can be made via the hospital's official channels or through a medical coordinator
- For acute burn emergencies, the Shanghai Burn Emergency Center operates 24/7
- For complex wound care or scar management consultations, the typical timeline from consultation to treatment start is 1–2 weeks
- The center's 17 ICU beds and specialized burn wards ensure capacity for critical cases
Cost Estimates
Burn treatment costs vary enormously based on burn severity, TBSA percentage, and length of stay. Here are general ranges:
| Service | Estimated Cost (CNY) | Estimated Cost (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial burn consultation | ¥300–800 | $42–110 |
| Burn wound debridement | ¥5,000–20,000 | $700–2,800 |
| Skin grafting surgery | ¥20,000–60,000 | $2,800–8,400 |
| Burn ICU (per day) | ¥5,000–15,000 | $700–2,100 |
| Scar revision surgery | ¥10,000–40,000 | $1,400–5,600 |
| Laser scar treatment (per session) | ¥3,000–8,000 | $420–1,100 |
| Complex wound care (per week) | ¥10,000–30,000 | $1,400–4,200 |
These are estimates. Severe burn treatment often requires weeks to months of hospitalization. International patients should budget accordingly and consider medical evacuation insurance.
Getting There
- Address: 168 Changhai Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, China
- Phone: +86-21-31166666
- Website: www.chhospital.com.cn
How ChinaMed Select Can Help
Burn injuries require specialized, often long-term care. ChinaMed Select ensures you're connected with the right team:
- Expert Matching: Whether it's acute severe burns, complex non-healing wounds, or scar management, we connect you with the appropriate specialist on the team
- Emergency Coordination: For acute burn emergencies, we can fast-track your connection to the Shanghai Burn Emergency Center
- Medical Record Preparation: Burn consultations require detailed injury documentation, prior treatment records, and wound photography. We help you organize and translate everything
- Appointment Coordination: We handle scheduling directly with the center
- Certified Medical Translation: Burn care involves detailed discussions about wound care, pain management, rehabilitation, and long-term outcomes. Our translators ensure you understand every detail
- End-to-End Journey Support: From airport pickup in Shanghai to accommodation near the hospital, interpreter presence, and coordination of multi-stage treatment (acute care → reconstruction → rehabilitation), we handle logistics so you can focus on recovery
Plan Your Visit
- Appointments: Hospital official channels or through ChinaMed Select
- Address: 168 Changhai Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, China
- Phone: +86-21-31166666
- Emergency: Shanghai Burn Emergency Center (24/7 for acute burns)
Dealing with severe burns or complex wounds? Contact ChinaMed Select for a free, personalized consultation. We'll review your condition, connect you with the right burn specialist at Changhai Hospital, and coordinate your entire treatment journey — from emergency response to long-term rehabilitation.