In Lviv, a 12-year-old girl suffering from fourth-degree scoliosis underwent two complex surgeries back-to-back, spending a total of 18 hours under anesthesia.

Thanks to these medical interventions, the child, diagnosed with a severe condition, now has the opportunity to live pain-free and walk independently, according to the First Medical Association of Lviv.

“When Vika was just 6 months old, her mother noticed her daughter’s spine was curving. After genetic testing, doctors diagnosed her with a rare condition known as Bethlem myopathy, which is characterized by weak muscles leading to severe scoliosis,” the physicians explained.

As the years passed, the disease progressed: Vika suffered from constant pain and shortness of breath and could not sit for extended periods. Her spinal curvature reached 160 degrees. At home, she moved around with a walker, while in school, she used a wheelchair. Frequent hospitalizations became routine for her.

A team of doctors from Lviv and the USA took on the challenge to assist the girl. They performed two challenging surgeries.

“To correct her scoliosis, we needed to remove an entire vertebra. On the first day of the operation, we stabilized her spine with screws. Then, on the second day, we removed several ribs, isolated the spinal cord, and placed a titanium cage to support the spine, slowly correcting it together with my colleague, neurophysiologist Megan Mallani,” said American orthopedic trauma surgeon Mark Dirzhka.

Despite the 18 hours of anesthesia, the complexity of the surgeries, and the need for two weeks of rehabilitation due to muscle weakness, the results were remarkable: Vika's spine was successfully straightened by 85%.

“Her back has truly changed. The rib hump is gone. She has grown taller. We are amazed! The doctors themselves said they achieved more than they expected,” said the girl’s mother.

Ahead of the girl lies a lengthy rehabilitation and further correction. However, she now has hope that she will be able to walk on her own.

Previously in Lviv, a soldier from the 80th Separate Air Assault Brigade, Roman Burevich, was rescued after suffering a spinal fracture during the Kursk operation.