Clipping Board » Disease & Prevention ─ Understanding diseases, prevention is better than cure.
Wu Shaoyin August 25, 2025
A 19-year-old male university student in Fujian province, China, suffered sudden paralysis due to long-term poor posture from looking down at his phone and work habits, which caused a rupture of the blood vessels in the cervical epidural space, forming a hematoma that compressed the spinal cord. Fortunately, he regained some limb strength after emergency surgery but will require long-term rehabilitation.
The student typically worked part-time at a restaurant, spending over four hours daily with his head down washing dishes and wiping tables. After returning to his dorm, he habitually lay on his bed playing games or watching videos for at least two to three hours. Before the onset of symptoms on July 30, he had already experienced warning signs such as numbness in his hands, feet, neck, and back. On that day, his lower limbs suddenly became paralyzed, and his hands gradually lost strength, prompting emergency medical treatment.
Hospital examinations revealed a massive space-occupying lesion in the student's spinal canal from C4 to T1, severely compressing the spinal cord and causing complete loss of sensation below the chest. The medical team immediately arranged emergency surgery, during which they discovered that blood vessels in the epidural space had ruptured, forming a large hematoma that compressed the spinal cord.
Huang Jiecong, deputy director of orthopedics at Quanzhou First Hospital, pointed out that the primary cause of this case was long-term maintenance of a forward-head posture. He explained, "When a person looks down, the neck bears three to five times the weight of the head. Maintaining this posture for extended periods can easily lead to ruptured blood vessels in the spinal canal or spinal cord compression." He emphasized the importance of timely surgery, stating, "If it had been a few hours later, he might never have been able to stand again."
With the widespread use of electronic devices, Huang has observed a significant increase in the incidence of cervical spine diseases. He specifically warned that symptoms such as neck pain, limb numbness, weakness or pain, and even unsteady walking could be signs of cervical spine issues. He urged the public not to seek treatment at unregulated massage parlors but to seek early medical diagnosis to seize the golden treatment window.
Fortunately, after surgery, the student can now lift his feet and has regained some limb strength. However, doctors stated that he will need long-term rehabilitation therapy in the future. This case serves as a wake-up call for young people, reminding the public to pay attention to their posture and duration of electronic device use.
Source: https:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E……9% B1% E7% 98% 93- 091545232. html
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A 19-year-old male college student nearly faced lifelong paralysis after a blood vessel in his cervical spine ruptured while he was
A 19-year-old male university student in Fujian province, China, suffered sudden paralysis due to long-term poor posture from looking down at his phone and work habits, which caused a rupture of the blood vessels in the cervical epidural space, forming a hematoma that compressed the spinal cord. Fortunately, he regained some limb strength after emergency surgery but will require long-term rehabilitation.
The student typically worked part-time at a restaurant, spending over four hours daily with his head down washing dishes and wiping tables. After returning to his dorm, he habitually lay on his bed playing games or watching videos for at least two to three hours. Before the onset of symptoms on July 30, he had already experienced warning signs such as numbness in his hands, feet, neck, and back. On that day, his lower limbs suddenly became paralyzed, and his hands gradually lost strength, prompting emergency medical treatment.
Hospital examinations revealed a massive space-occupying lesion in the student's spinal canal from C4 to T1, severely compressing the spinal cord and causing complete loss of sensation below the chest. The medical team immediately arranged emergency surgery, during which they discovered that blood vessels in the epidural space had ruptured, forming a large hematoma that compressed the spinal cord.
Huang Jiecong, deputy director of orthopedics at Quanzhou First Hospital, pointed out that the primary cause of this case was long-term maintenance of a forward-head posture. He explained, "When a person looks down, the neck bears three to five times the weight of the head. Maintaining this posture for extended periods can easily lead to ruptured blood vessels in the spinal canal or spinal cord compression." He emphasized the importance of timely surgery, stating, "If it had been a few hours later, he might never have been able to stand again."
With the widespread use of electronic devices, Huang has observed a significant increase in the incidence of cervical spine diseases. He specifically warned that symptoms such as neck pain, limb numbness, weakness or pain, and even unsteady walking could be signs of cervical spine issues. He urged the public not to seek treatment at unregulated massage parlors but to seek early medical diagnosis to seize the golden treatment window.
Fortunately, after surgery, the student can now lift his feet and has regained some limb strength. However, doctors stated that he will need long-term rehabilitation therapy in the future. This case serves as a wake-up call for young people, reminding the public to pay attention to their posture and duration of electronic device use.
Source: https:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E……9% B1% E7% 98% 93- 091545232. html