Story of a Patient with Ankylosing Spondylitis in China Revealed
Spine Bent in a Z Shape... Kidney Only 1m in Length
A story of a Chinese university student suffering from 'ankylosing spondylitis' has been shared. This disease causes inflammation in the spinal area, which repeatedly weakens and leads to joint deformities. Recently, the British media outlet 'The Sun' reported the story of Zhang Yanchen (20), a university student from Shandong Province, China. Zhang is nicknamed the 'folded boy' in China. He is a patient with ankylosing spondylitis, a rare disease in which the spine gradually stiffens, and as the condition worsened, his waist bent into a Z shape, twisting his body.
In the released photos, his spine is severely curved to the extent that his neck is bent backward behind his back. His height is only 1 meter.
Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the spinal joints. Due to this disease, Zhang had to attend classes kneeling from a young age, and his lung capacity has decreased to about 20% of that of a normal adult. Zhang is considered to be at a severe level even among ankylosing spondylitis patients.
Because of this, he underwent two high-risk surgeries in May and August of last year. The first surgery involved forcibly breaking and lengthening the cervical vertebrae, then fixing the area between the head and spine with a ring-shaped support. Although it was a risky surgery that could have caused nerve damage, fortunately, the surgery was successfully completed.
The second surgery adjusted Zhang’s spine, which was bent 180 degrees, to about 90 degrees. After safely completing both surgeries, Zhang can now stand for about an hour or sit on a chair. Recently, Zhang enrolled at Dezhou University located in eastern Shandong Province and is continuing his campus life.
Ankylosing spondylitis is a disease where inflammation occurs in the spine, repeatedly weakening and causing joint deformities. The exact cause of onset is still unknown. It is suspected that a specific gene variant known as HLA-B27 is related to the disease’s development. This gene is present in about 7% of normal people but is found in over 90% of ankylosing spondylitis patients.
If treatment is delayed, the spine gradually stiffens, and inflammation can spread to other joints related to the spine, such as the heels, knees, and sternum. There is also a risk of accompanying complications such as respiratory diseases.
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