Connor, 9, undergoes a world-first spine operation

All smiles: Connor and mum Michaela, who say life has been great since his pioneering operation.

A Young boy is believed to be the first person in the world to have undergone revolutionary surgery to correct his spine which was so badly deformed it was shaped like a '˜C'.

Nine-year-old Connor Demetriou from Cutsyke had a staggering 96-degree bend in his spine which was squashing vital organs and left him struggling to walk.

Doctors were concerned the condition known as ‘scoliosis’ - curvature of the spine - threatened his life expectancy.

He underwent a pioneering eight-hour ‘double trolley’ operation which has ultimately saved his life and allowed him to walk easily again.

Trolley surgery involves inserting expanding rods parallel to the spine. This realigns the curve and allows the rods to grow with the child as they get older.

Initially scheduled to undergo ‘single’ trolley surgery, the consultant surgeon decided to perform a ‘double trolley’ operation at the very last minute, and it believed to be the first of its kind in the world. His mum, Michaela Demetriou, 38, said: “It was serious, it started to affect his breathing and was squashing his lungs.

“He would get colds often and his stamina wasn’t there, he was on medication every day at school. If they didn’t intervene by the time he got to 30-years-old he would end up having heart and breathing issues and a lower life expectancy.

“He will have to have another surgery when he is a teenager.