Boy with severe spinal deformity stands tall after new surgery

An eight-year-old boy with a severe spinal deformity is standing tall thanks to an Australian-first surgery, without which his chest would have become crushed over time.

Melbourne boy Dempsey Wells has spent more time in hospital than he can remember. For three months, he has had to wear a medical halo to stretch his spine as much as possible.

“Freeman Sheldons Syndrome basically affects joints. So his hands are affected, his face is affected, ankles, knees, hips,” the little boy’s mum Lynne told 7 News.

Left untreated, the spinal deformity would have become worse and eventually would have crushed Dempsey’s chest.

“A traditional way of treating spinal deformities is to fuse the spine into a corrected position,” said Royal Children’s Hospital spine doctor Michael Johnson.

“That would leave Dempsey with a very short and very limited trunk, that would [remain] limited like that forever.”

This new procedure, developed by a French surgeon, has been implemented for the first time in Australia.

“It looks like AFL goal posts – the long rods are in the middle, the short rods are on the outside,” Dr Johnson explained of the implanted device.

The device grows with the child and is less invasive, with patients spending half as much time in hospital.

“The surgeon showed me the X-rays taken in surgery, and it was absolutely amazing,” Dempsey’s mother said.

Five months ago, activities like horse riding and playing sport were much more difficult, but now Dempsey is active and loving life.

Asked why he is happier now, the youngster replied: “Because I am a bit taller!” He grew 12 centimetres in three months.

He’s also kicking goals on the footy field.

“We never thought he’d be doing Auskick or playing on the MCG at half time, so it was pretty phenomenal,” Dempsey’s mother said.

“There were quite a few tears around.”