A mobile phone gaming addict ended up with dropped head syndrome after playing games too often.
The unnamed man, aged 25, suffered from the extremely rare condition due to his head being lowered for a prolonged period.
Images captured by an X-ray showed his neck to have folded at an unusual 90-degree bend.
Part of his spine had even protruded underneath his skin.
The young man suffered symptoms which affected his ability to swallow.
His case was published in an online journal which stated he lost weight due to being limited to one single meal.
According to the journal, he also suffered numbness and weakness in his left hand.
JOS Case Reports stated that he was very lively as a child, however experienced severe bullying during his teenage years.
This led to him being reluctant to socialise with others, and he dropped out of school.
He became holed up in his bedroom and began playing mobile games, which involved him bending his neck and bowing his head.
Over time, his neck became severely bent to the point where he could no longer raise his head.
After a visit to a doctor, it was found that his cervical spine was bent at a 90-degree angle, as reported by Need To Know.
The doctor believed the cause to be due to his neck being held in an unnatural position for a long period.
Medical staff attempted to correct the positioning of the man’s neck using a neck brace.
He, however, found this uncomfortable, and so the doctor decided to perform surgery.
A small piece of the man’s cervical spine was removed, and a series of steel nails were inserted to rectify his posture.
Within six months after the surgery, the man was miraculously able to easily keep his head in the normal horizontal position.
Doctors continued to regularly monitor the man, from Japan, and keep track of his behaviour.
It was found that his ability to lift his head and swallow was no longer obstructed.
Experts concluded that the patient’s condition is likely to be caused by the uncomfortable position of the neck and potential developmental disorders.
The case was published as part of a 2023 journal.
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