Cover image via Jimu News
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A 35-year-old police officer in China, who was left completely paralysed from the neck down after a serious traffic accident, is now able to walk again
The patient, Liu Boqi, was working as a traffic officer when he was left almost completely paralysed after the accident on 23 December 2024.
The cervical fracture resulted in a complete loss of voluntary limb movement and respiratory failure.
According to Chinese news website Jimu News, Liu's remarkable recovery was made possible by a world-first spinal interface surgery performed by doctors at the Second Hospital of Jilin University.
According to Dr Wu Minfei, the hospital's vice-president, traditional treatment would have left Liu bedridden for life
The team, however, had been planning for this scenario.
On 22 January this year, Liu underwent the spinal interface implantation.
Doctors implanted a 56mm by 7.5mm electrode at the injury site, covering his third to seventh cervical vertebrae.
This electrode is designed to stimulate motor neurons, enabling the transmission and regulation of electrical signals to re-establish neural signalling.
Just six hours after the surgery, Dr Wu activated the interface. The patient's fingers and toes subsequently exhibited contractions and twitching.
Nine months later, Liu's recovery is significant.
"Liu can now walk independently without an exoskeleton, though his balance remains impaired," Dr Wu said, adding that he has regained grade four muscle strength in his upper limbs.
Liu described the technology as making him "feel like I can stand up again and walk, filling me with hope for the future".
The breakthrough offers new hope for China's 3.74 million spinal cord injury patients.
