After assisting his father in his orthopaedic institution he visited several European countries and stayed in Paris, London, Glasgow and Dublin.

He reported on his experiences in English hospitals in the 'Journal of the Württembergian Medical Association' ('Correspondenzblatt des Württembergischen Ärztlichen Vereins').

He succeeded his teacher Karl Otto Weber as professor and director of the surgical hospital.

Heine's successful work in Innsbruck induced the Austrian government to start a similar project in Prague.

From 1873 onwards Heine established a second surgical hospital as an exemplary institute of European rank.