Doctor uses 3D printed bones to save boy with chest compression caused by deformed spine

2018-07-31 16:10 Last Updated At：17:45

The boy said, "I can play football again!"

Recently, a boy who moves slowly and weirdly in a junior football match in Australia has caught the attention of the audience. After he kicked a goal and scored, not only his teammates were cheering, but also his opponents could not help cheer for him.

Click to Gallery

Online Photo

More Images

Online Photo

What's the matter?

The boy Dempsey Wells, from Melbourne, who just turned eight this year is actually a patient diagnosed with the "Freeman-Sheldon Syndrome", which is a very rare disease and its pathology has not been found.

It is known the disease will cause skeletal deformities in the mouth, hands, feet, spine, and face. Children with this disease often have symptoms of mental retardation and hearing loss.

Under the torture brought by the illness, Dempsey's spine gradually deformed and his back raised high. As the condition worsened, not only the spine but also the bone shape of his hands and legs began to change. Suffering from muscular dystrophy, Dempsey became weak and his face was skewed. Afterward, Dempsey could only lie on the bed in the hospital, getting and sitting up extremely difficult.

Even worse, the treatment for this disease is complicated and without timely treatment, the deformed backspin will eventually crush the chest and internal organs. In order to relieve the pressure on the spine, Dempsey had to wear a special helmet to fix the head on the hospital bed.

According to the traditional treatment, the doctor will implant a fixed-length artificial spine into the patient's body, which plays a role as a wooden stick to straighten the severely curved spine. However, the artificial spine could only make his back stand upright temporarily when Dempsey is still young. But when he grows up and gets taller, he may not move freely, or even face fatal danger in the future.

Dempsey's parents were desperate for the situation but can only stay bedside their son every day, spending time with him.

Things suddenly turned around when pediatric orthopedics surgeon Francois Deroussen decided to test his research first time in Australia, which has studied for more than a year. The research is about using the 3D printing technology to produce an artificial spine and then implant it into a patient’s body. What makes them happy is that the 3D printed artificial spine could extend as Dempsey grow taller.

Dr. Deroussen explained that this "bone" looks like a goalpost on the football field, with the long pole in the middle and the short pole on the outside, using the telescopic principle to make it "extend with the development of Dempsey, automatically adapting to his body structure."

After a full-body scan of Dempsey and repeatedly simulation exercises on the dummy, this unprecedented operation in the Australian medical community created a miracle.

Eventually, after three hours of suffering, Dr. Deroussen announced that the operation was successful. Dempsey's mother could not help but cry and sigh, "I can't believe this miracle will happen to my son."

Dempsey used to have a severely deformed spine, whereas three months after surgery, he is 12cm taller than before. Now he can not only ride horses, play basketball, but also come back to his favorite football field, enjoying playing football with other children.

Ingram scores season-high 38, Raptors move closer to playoff berth by beating slumping Heat 128-114

TORONTO (AP) — Brandon Ingram scored a season-high 38 points, RJ Barrett had 22 and the Toronto Raptors moved closer to clinching their first playoff berth since 2022 by beating the slumping Miami Heat 128-114 on Thursday night.

Collin Murray-Boyles scored 17 points, Scottie Barnes had 13 and Immanuel Quickley 11 as Toronto moved past Atlanta into fifth place in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors and Hawks are both 45-35, but Toronto swept the season series.

Bam Adebayo had 24 points and 11 rebounds as the Heat lost for the 10th time in 13 games. Already destined for the play-in tournament, Miami’s hopes of improving its seeding took another hit.

Miami’s Davion Mitchell finished with 15 points and 11 assists. Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr. each scored 15 points.

With their second home win over the Heat in three days, the Raptors swept the season series against the Heat for the third time. They also did it in 2007-08 and 2018-19.

Ingram matched his season high with seven assists. He had 13 points as Toronto outscored Miami 24-6 over the final 5:46 of the first half to lead 69-50 at the break.

Ingram shot 10 for 11 at the free throw line in the first half. The entire Heat team went 3 for 7 at the line in that time.

Toronto scored seven straight points to begin the third Miami answered with nine 3-pointers in the quarter. Ingram had 13 points in the third to keep Toronto in front, and the Raptors took a 102-90 lead to the fourth.

Toronto finished 14-4 against Southeast Division teams. They went 14-3 against the Central.

The Raptors are 4-11 against Atlantic foes with two games remaining. Toronto has lost 12 straight against the Knicks, who they visit Friday night.

Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. watched from a baseline seat.

Heat: At Washington on Friday.

Raptors: At New York on Friday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Doctor uses 3D printed bones to save boy with chest compression caused by deformed spine