A circus gymnast who suffered a severe spinal injury during a performance has praised the work of surgeons from the Novosibirsk NIITO after undergoing a complex reconstructive surgery. Zhibek Kazakova, who sustained a burst fracture of her L1 vertebra when she fell from a great height, appeared on the “Male/Female” program to share her story.

Kazakova recounted the December 29, 2022, accident, explaining that she was attempting a new trick when she lost control and fell. The initial surgery in her hometown failed, leading her to seek treatment at the Novosibirsk NIITO, where doctors successfully performed a multi-stage correction of post-traumatic kyphotic spinal deformity.

The 13-hour operation involved replacing the most damaged vertebra with titanium and securing the entire structure to seven vertebrae. Kazakova now has titanium screws and bolts along much of her spine.

Surgeons Alexey Lastevsky and Kirill Anikin, who treated Kazakova, joined her in the studio. Anikin stated that Kazakova is currently recovering and needs approximately 18 months for a bone block to form.

Lastevsky praised Kazakova’s resilience and expressed optimism about her recovery, stating that if everything goes well, she may be able to return to gymnastics.

The program also highlighted the story of Anastasia Shiryaeva, who has been battling health issues for 12 years after contracting encephalitis from a tick bite.