A 19-year-old boy underwent spinal surgery after prolonged gaming addiction and social isolation led to partial paralysis. Doctors later discovered that the underlying cause of his condition was undiagnosed spinal tuberculosis (TB), which had gone unnoticed during his extended period of isolation.
According to doctors at the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC), the teenager would be glued to his phone playing games for more than 12 hours daily, remaining isolated from his family. Over time, he developed a bent spine and began losing control over his bladder.
The doctors later noticed a severe spinal deformity known as kyphoscoliosis—a dangerous condition involving both forward and sideways curvature of the spine. Further investigation revealed the underlying cause to be undiagnosed spinal tuberculosis (TB), which had gone unnoticed during his extended period of isolation.
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Scans revealed that tuberculosis had infected two of his spinal bones (D11 and D12), leading to pus formation and pressure on his spinal cord. The child was also struggling to walk and even pass urine.
“This was a challenging case due to the double burden of advanced spinal TB and the impact of long-term gaming addiction,” Dr Vikas Tandon, Chief of Spine Services at ISIC, told The India Today.
To correct the deformity, doctors used advanced spinal navigation technology to precisely align the spine and place implants. The procedure involved decompressing the spinal cord and stabilising the spine.
The child is now recovering and undergoing counselling to address his gaming addiction. “This case underscores the importance of early medical intervention, parental awareness, and maintaining a balanced lifestyle. Gaming addiction isn’t just a mental health concern—it can mask serious health conditions like spinal TB,” Dr Tandon added.
