A gentleman residing in China has finally reclaimed his life following the completion of a rigorous spinal operation that has enabled him to stand up, recline, and even gaze straight ahead effortlessly.
The Man Who Folded
Li Hua, aged 46, was famously known as the “Folding Man” due to the permanent forward bend position of his upper body over his lower limbs. Diagnosed with a type of arthritis known as ankylosing spondylitis at eighteen, he was unable to afford medical treatment due to financial constraints within his family.
Over time, the increasing joint pain made it progressively challenging for him to maintain an erect posture until he reached a point where sitting up or lying down became impossible, and basic tasks like eating or drinking became arduous. Medical assistance was denied in his home province of Central China’s Hunan Province, citing the high risk associated with the treatment jeopardizing his life.
Professor Tao Huiren, who heads the spinal surgery and orthopaedics unit at Shenzhen University General Hospital, took on the challenge. Despite having treated similar cases in the past, none matched the severity of Li Hua’s condition.
“Our sole recourse was to sequentially break his bones – femur, cervical vertebrae, thoracic vertebrae, lumbar vertebrae – and subsequently align his entire spinal column,” Huiren explained. “The associated risks were 20 to 30 times higher compared to an average spinal surgery patient, with a significant likelihood of him ending up as a paraplegic.”
The operation was a triumph, and now Hua can stand, sit, and lie flat for the first time in nearly three decades.
Understanding Ankylosing Spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a type of persistent arthritis primarily affecting the spine. Usually commencing during adolescence or early adulthood, it manifests as back pain and rigidity. With time, the vertebrae of the spine fuse together, severely limiting back mobility, a condition known as ankylosis.
AS initiates in the joints connecting the pelvic bones (ilia) with the base of the spine (sacrum), termed the sacroiliac joints. From this point, inflammation spreads across the remaining vertebrae, leading to a state known as spondylitis.
Other joints like shoulders, hips, and occasionally knees may also be impacted, eventually affecting the joints joining the spine and ribs. This can constrain chest movements, complicating deep breathing. In certain instances, AS can influence the eyes, identified as iritis or uveitis.
Understanding the Mechanism
The precise cause of ankylosing spondylitis remains unknown to scientists. While relatively uncommon, affecting only about 0.2 to 0.5 percent of the U.S. population, AS is presumed to be an inherited condition, with specific genetic indicators, such as the HLA-B27 antigen, heightening vulnerability.
Significance of HLA-B27
HLA-B27 encompasses antigens present on white blood cells, aiding in combating infections. Detection of these antigens in the bloodstream may suggest an autoimmune disorder, where the immune system targets its own cells.
Ankylosing spondylitis stands as one of the prevalent autoimmune diseases linked to HLA-B27 and can be identified via a basic blood test when AS is suspected by the physician.
Available AS Treatments
The primary treatment objective is to alleviate pain, stiffness, and prevent spinal deformities before they become permanent. Effective treatments are most successful when intervened prior to irreversible spinal damage.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) represent the initial line of defense against AS. These drugs reduce joint inflammation, pain, and rigidity, albeit with potential gastrointestinal side effects.
If NSAIDs prove ineffective, biological medications may be prescribed. Examples include tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers or interleukin-17 (IL-17) inhibitors, crucial in managing inflammation and combating pain, stiffness, and swollen joints.
Furthermore, physical therapy plays a crucial role in treatment, offering benefits like pain relief, enhanced strength, and flexibility.
Surgical intervention is considered a final resort, typically reserved for patients with extensive joint damage, with a majority of AS patients not requiring surgery.
A Successful Surgical Procedure
Li Hua’s surgery marked a significant achievement, being the first-ever correction of such severe spinal deformities in China. Presently employing a walker for mobility support, doctors anticipate that with several months of physical therapy, he will regain normal movement capabilities.
“While extreme activities like boxing or tennis may be challenging, routine bodily movements should pose no obstacles for him.”
The surgery has granted him a new lease on life, prompting him to express deep gratitude, primarily to his mother, his primary caregiver for the majority of his life, and of course, to Dr. Tao. “Without Doctor Tao, there would have been no hope for my cure. He’s my rescuer, and my appreciation for him is next only to that for my mother.”
Feel free to SHARE this insightful article with your loved ones!
