12-Hour Gaming Streaks and Missed Diagnosis of Spinal TB Lead to Deformity, Loss of Bladder Control and Emergency Surgery

5 May 2025, New Delhi

Experts have warned parents to stay watchful. In a terrifying example that exposes the negative side of excessive gaming and medical neglect, a 19-year-old Delhi kid had spinal surgery after being diagnosed with an unusual mix of partial paralysis and a badly damaged spine. Doctors traced his condition to a long-standing addiction to PUBG and an undetected case of spinal tuberculosis (TB).

The teenager, whose identity has not been disclosed for privacy reasons, reportedly spent over 12 hours daily locked inside his room, immersed in the online game. According to doctors at the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC), his sedentary lifestyle and isolation gradually led to a bent spine — medically diagnosed as kypho-scoliosis, a dangerous spinal deformity involving both forward and sideways curvature.

As time passed, the boy began experiencing a loss of bladder control and difficulty in walking — clear signs that his spinal cord was under intense pressure. However, due to lack of medical attention and awareness, his condition continued to worsen silently for almost a year.

Upon admission to ISIC, a detailed scan revealed that tuberculosis had infected two of his thoracic vertebrae (D11 and D12). The infection had resulted in the formation of pus and increased spinal pressure, which led to his partial paralysis and immobility.

“This was an extremely challenging case — not just because of advanced spinal TB, but also due to the compounding effects of prolonged gaming addiction,” said Dr. Vikas Tandon, Chief of Spine Services at ISIC. “The spinal deformity was severe, and had the patient arrived any later, the damage might have been irreversible.”

Doctors believe the boy’s constant sitting posture, poor nutrition, and lack of physical movement created an ideal environment for spinal TB to go unnoticed and untreated. Though spinal tuberculosis is treatable, it often goes undiagnosed in early stages due to subtle symptoms.

The patient has now undergone a complex spinal surgery to remove the pus and stabilize his spine. Doctors say his long-term recovery will depend on consistent rehabilitation, physiotherapy, and behavioral changes.

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A Wake-Up Call for Parents and Youth

Experts have recommended parents to monitor their children’s internet usage. “Addiction to gaming is not just a mental health issue anymore. It’s a physical threat — and in some cases, even life-altering,” Dr. Tandon emphasized.

As screen time continues to increase among youth, this case stands as a grim reminder of the hidden health crises brewing behind closed doors — where a virtual battleground left a real-life teenager fighting for his mobility.

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