Thanks to bone fragments taken from the legs, it was possible to fill a gap in the spine of a five-year-old girl, informs BBC News / Health.
Rosie Davies of Walsall, West Midlands, was born with a rare birth defect – segmental spinal dysgenesis. She was missing five vertebrae and part of the spinal cord, and her legs were bent to her stomach.
Prior to the operation, Rosie’s internal organs were under constant pressure because her spine was unable to support them properly. Constant pressure could lead to fatal organ failure. Imaging studies have shown problems with the kidneys in particular
The life-saving operation required the sacrifice of some of the limp bones in the girl’s legs. They were amputated below the knees. It was possible to make a “bridge” from the bones of the legs, filling the gap. The connection is reinforced with metal pins.
The operation at Birmingham Children’s Hospital lasted 13 hours. This is the first such procedure in Great Britain, and the only similar procedure was carried out 10 years earlier in New Zealand. Without surgical intervention, organ failure and death could have occurred at any time, and after surgery, Rosie is as likely to live a long life as a healthy child. The legs – although shortened – regain feeling, which should allow the girl to walk on prostheses in the future. (PAP)
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