A construction worker from Sichuan, who was paralyzed and suffered from urinary incontinence for 17 years after a fall, can finally control his bladder and bowels on his own

After suffering from paralysis and urinary incontinence for a full 17 years due to a fall, Mr. Zhou from Guang’an, Sichuan, underwent the Xiao procedure at Xiao Chuan-Guo Hospital in Shenzhen and finally regained the ability to control his bladder and bowels independently.

In his early twenties, a time when many men start to forge their path and strive for success, Mr. Zhou faced a tragic accident. At just 23 years old, he fell from a height of 10 meters. He was immediately immobilized, lying flat on the ground without losing consciousness, but his legs were completely paralyzed. This young man was tormented by his condition for 17 long years.

Mr. Zhou was initially rushed to the emergency department of Dongguan Qishi Hospital, where he was diagnosed with an “L1 compression fracture” and underwent surgery to fix the fracture internally. A catheter was placed, and after its removal, he experienced difficulty urinating, urinary retention, and only a small amount of urine was expelled under abdominal pressure. He also suffered from constipation, going only once every 2-3 days, and incontinence during diarrhea. Three years post-surgery, he gradually began to experience urinary incontinence, dribbling urine, and intermittent stream under abdominal pressure, with no improvement in his bowel symptoms. On September 23, 2014, Mr. Zhou felt pain in his kidney area and underwent an ultrasound at Dongguan Qishi Hospital, which revealed hydronephrosis and bilateral ureteral dilation.

Mr. Zhou decided not to continue treatment there but instead found Xiao Chuan-Guo Hospital through online research, a facility renowned for treating urinary incontinence and paralysis due to myelomeningocele. The hospital staff warmly welcomed him and conducted a physical examination, which revealed positive pressure pain along the left ureter, a dull sound upon percussion above the pubic symphysis, a 10cm longitudinal scar on his lower back, muscle atrophy in the buttocks and calves, reduced pain and sensation in the lower legs and below the ankles, grade 4 muscle strength in the lower limbs, absent knee and Achilles reflexes, and a relaxed anal sphincter. Previous examinations had shown hydronephrosis, bilateral ureteral dilation, and an enlarged prostate with stones. He was finally diagnosed with neurogenic bladder, hydronephrosis, bilateral ureteral dilation, and postoperative L1 compression fracture.

Professor Xiao Chuan-Guo decided to perform the Xiao procedure, spinal nerve loosening, spinal canal expansion and decompression, and removal of lumbar internal fixation in four surgeries. The surgeries went very smoothly, and on the first day post-operation, Mr. Zhou felt a significant improvement in his condition, with reduced pain in the wound and right foot.

After 23 days in the hospital, Mr. Zhou was able to urinate and defecate normally and was in high spirits. He was deeply grateful to Professor Xiao Chuan-Guo and all the medical staff for restoring his bladder and bowel control after 17 years of suffering.