Health Times reporter Kong Tianjiao
"I can finally lift my head myself and look at the sun, the sky and the clouds in the sky." This is the most said sentence by 45-year-old "folding man" Zhang Yonglun after being discharged from the hospital.
"I can stand up." It was something he hadn't dared to think about for 15 years.
"Folding person" is an image name for patients with severe spinal and joint deformities caused by "ankylosing spondylitis". Lu Sheng, chief physician of the Department of Orthopedics of the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, told the Health Times reporter: "The severity of 'folding person' Zhang Yonglun is extremely rare, 15 years ago there was a complete folding of the body, fortunately, after the operation, everything is gradually improving, the current patient has been discharged, and the later stage will be slowly restored according to the assessment." "In the future, I also hope that more patients can return to normal life through scientific treatment."
Zhang Yonglun in recovery, courtesy of the interviewee
15 years ago, the body was completely folded and two surgeries were reborn
Zhang Yonglun from Luxun, Yunnan Province, began to have inconvenient bilateral hip joint movement in 2000, and later the trunk gradually folded closer to the lower limbs, the spine was flexed, and the bilateral knee joint movement was restricted. Although the condition had a great impact on life, the cost of hospitalization made Zhang Yonglun prohibitive from regular diagnosis and treatment, and by 2005, Zhang Yonglun's body was completely folded, and the bar was attached to his knees, resembling a "folding knife".)
Zhang Yonglun's body was completely folded before the operation, and the interviewee provided the picture
"I haven't been out since I got sick, I can only see the ground, and I can only walk with my hands pushing two stools to support my walk." Zhang Yonglun told reporters, "I have always been at home, but in fact, I have always wanted to go further away, and I want to change my current life through treatment." ”
Fortunately, in 2021, Zhang Yonglun was treated with the assistance of a charitable organization. Professor Lu Sheng recalled the situation of seeing Zhang Yonglun for the first time to the Health Times reporter: "At that time, experts also pinched a handful of sweat, the patient's heart and lungs were squeezed for a long time, the physical condition was poor, plus the situation was more serious, and the operation was difficult.
I have treated many patients with ankylosing spondylitis, but this patient's condition is the most serious and rare I have encountered in more than 20 years of medical practice, and his jaw is already attached to his lower limbs when he comes to the hospital. Lu Sheng said.
Due to being "folded" for 15 years, Zhang Yonglun's stomach was squeezed, severely malnourished, more than 170 centimeters tall, and weighed only 68 pounds when admitted to the hospital.
On October 27, 2021, after hospital evaluation, Zhang Yonglun underwent hip surgery and then performed spinal orthopaedic surgery after his condition was stable; on November 15, 2021, the patient underwent the first phase of bilateral hip replacement, and on January 6, 2022, he underwent the second phase of kyphosis osteotomy.
Zhang Yonglun during surgery, the interviewee provided a picture
On January 26, Zhang Yonglun, a patient of the "folding man" who was hospitalized in the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province for more than three months and underwent two major difficult and high-risk surgeries, was successfully recovered and discharged from the hospital. At present, Zhang Yonglun can already stand and walk under the support.
The happiest thing is to be able to look up at the sky and continue knee surgery
Lu Sheng told the Health Times reporter: "After the operation, Zhang Yonglun's condition was stable, and he had anorexia, nausea and abdominal pain, and later after multidisciplinary consultation, these conditions were also alleviated." Today, patients are able to stand and walk. ”
Walking independently, these are the simplest actions for ordinary people, Zhang Yonglun has been looking forward to for 15 years.
"Doctors and many kinds of assistance gave me hope in my original despair." Zhang Yonglun said: "Many doctors and nurses have purchased daily necessities and food for me many times out of their own pockets on their own initiative. Now that it's New Year's Day, I want to say to them: Happy New Year! ”
"The most thankful thing is the doctor, who let me get up and walk, and I can go outside to see the scenery." When he was discharged from the hospital, Zhang Yonglun also gained some weight and increased his weight to 82 pounds.
Lu Sheng introduced that after Zhang Yonglun performed a period of lower limb muscle exercises, he also had to do another knee surgery, "After opening the knee joint, the walking ability can be further improved, and he can walk better." Lu Sheng hopes that more people will know about spinal joint deformities, so that more patients with spinal and joint deformities can get early and reasonable treatment.