Man with Severe Spinal Condition Regains Upright Posture After Complex Surgeries

Jiang Yanchen, a young man, suffered from a severe medical condition that caused him to be classified as a reverse-folded posture patient. After enduring four intricate surgeries, his body was corrected by approximately 170 degrees. This remarkable transformation finally allowed Jiang to stand upright.

Before the surgeries, the distance between Jiang's head and hips was minimal, barely the width of a palm. The surgeries were performed by Liang Yijian, a specialist in correcting extreme spinal deformities. The final surgery alone lasted over twelve hours. A widely shared online video showed the doctor kneeling during the procedure, a position he said allowed for better adjustments to the patient's posture.

Jiang's condition was not present at birth. He was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, a form of arthritis, at just over two years old. This condition caused severe inflammation in his spine's joints and ligaments. He underwent tendon lengthening surgery, but his head began tilting backward uncontrollably. His neck became increasingly stiff, and his head could no longer be repositioned.

Multiple doctors attributed the condition to genetic abnormalities, although the specific genetic defect was never identified. Without a targeted treatment, Jiang's condition continued to worsen. By junior high, his neck had arched backward until his head pressed against his spine.

Despite these significant physical challenges, Jiang remained determined. In 2022, he took the national college entrance exam while lying on a yoga mat. He was later admitted to Dezhou University in Shandong Province.

According to Dr. Liang, the patient underwent four exceptionally difficult surgeries, which he described as the "pinnacle" of surgical complexity. The first surgery in May 2023 reduced the reverse fold from 180 degrees to 90 degrees. Subsequent procedures included reverse osteotomy correction, cervical osteotomy with orthopedic revision, and hip joint release surgery.

Following the successful surgeries, many people expressed their happiness and offered their best wishes. They celebrated his new life, free from the physical constraints he had endured.