‘Folding man’ finally stands up straight

A PATIENT dubbed the “folding man” can finally stand straight again after life-changing surgery to fix his hunched back.

Li Hua, of China’s Hunan Province, has reportedly lived with his face pressed against his thighs for two decades, according to local reports.

The 46-year-old was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in 1991 at the age of 18, Chinese media claims.

After a series of high-risk operations this year, he has been able to stand completely straight for the first time in 28 years.

Doctors who treated Mr Hua — who struggled to eat or drink before his operation — hope he will able to walk without aid in the next three months.

Mr Hua’s condition worsened in the past five years. He measured only 90cm (2.9ft) in height because of his severely curved spine.

In May this year, Mr Hua’s family came across Professor Tao Huiren, head of spinal surgery and orthopaedics at Shenzhen University General Hospital.

Professor Huiren had treated other “folding” patients with similar spinal conditions — but none whose case was so severe, reports said.

The symptoms of AS usually develop slowly over several years.

Mr Hua said, “There would’ve been no cure for me without Dr Tao. He’s my saviour, and my gratitude to him is second only to my mother.”

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is believed to be caused by a faulty gene. Inflammation in the spine makes the back, rib cage and neck stiff and painful.

The inflammation causes bone to wear away, and in response, the body produces extra calcium to grow more bone, sometimes in the wrong places.

This process leads to further bone formation and the individual bones of the spine may fuse together. In serious cases this can make the spine curve forward more.