Ethiopian boy with ‘anaconda spine’ treated in Chennai hospital

CHENNAI: A 15-year-old boy from Ethiopia, who came to SIMS Hospital in Chennai with a severe case of kyphoscoliosis or ‘anaconda spine,’ underwent a complex corrective surgery.
Tesfaye Mengesha Mersha was diagnosed with kyphoscoliosis with a 110-degree deformity of the upper spine. The deformity severely affected his ability to walk.
Tests showed that he was suffering from neurofibromatosis, a genetic condition which causes deformity in the spine. The deformity began as a small deviation of the spine nearly six years ago.
As he grew up, the deformity worsened and obstructed the expansion of the lungs and put pressure on the heart.
A team of doctors led by senior spine surgeon Dr K Appaji Krishnan decided on a halo gravity traction by hanging 13-14kg of weight to the patient's head for a month to stretch the spine and straighten the deformity. This was followed by a surgery.
"The deformity which could cause heart and lung failure was successfully treated," he said.
Mersha kicks a ball after recovery
Mersha will soon be discharged from hospital. “I can live a better life from now. I can play football," he said kicking a football before the flashing media cameras.