A 9 nine-year-old boy become the first patient in Europe to undergo a new procedure to treat the curve in his spine, according to Big Stamp of Approval.
Here are five things to know:
1. Spine surgeons at Sheffield (U.K.) Children's Hospital performed the groundbreaking surgery, which is part of an international study of 17 patients worldwide.
2. The procedure is known as the trolley surgery and requires surgeons to insert expanding rods into the patient's spine. The rods are designed to realign the spine's curve and grow with the patient.
3. The 9-year-old patient suffered from scoliosis. Before undergoing surgery, he was having difficulty breathing. Postoperatively, the patient stands two inches taller and is able to run and walk.
4. The trolley surgery has been performed only three institutions globally. The surgery takes between five and six hours to complete.
5. The BBC documentary series Inside Out explored the 9-year-old patient's treatment. The live show aired Oct. 8.