Eye-watering images have revealed how spending hours playing games on a smartphone could result in terrifying ‘dropped head syndrome’.

Japanese medics have detailed the case of a 25-year-old man whose neck had become so weak from the habit that he became unable to lift his head.

Shocking photos show a bulge erupting from his neck, which medics attributed to his vertebrae becoming ‘extremely extended’ from the unnatural position.

Writing in a case report, the medics said their patient sought help after having suffered severe neck pain for six months and becoming unable to lift his head.

He also experienced problems swallowing which led to eating fewer meals and losing a worrying amount of weight as result.

Medics noted that while the unnamed man had been an active child., this had all changed in his early teens.

After experiencing ‘serious bullying’ the patient had effectively withdrawn from society, dropping out of school and barricading himself in his room for several years.

During his self-isolation he played games on his phone for extremely long periods while deeply bending his neck to look down at the device.

Shocking photos show a bulge erupting from his neck, which medics attributed to his vertebrae becoming ‘extremely extended’ from the unnatural position

Writing in a case report, the medics said their patient sought help after having suffered severe neck pain for six months and becoming unable to lift his head. Pictured a scan showing how the unnamed man’s neck and spine had become deformed

Scans taken by his doctors revealed the vertebrae of his neck had become distorted and dislocated with scar-like tissue developing in the spine over time as a result.

Medics initially tried to correct his dropped head syndrome with collars— medical devices worn around the neck that support and stabilise the head.

However, as the patient complained of numbness while wearing the devices, this treatment was stopped.

Doctors instead opted for a series of surgical procedures.

They first removed small segments of his vertebrae and some of the scar-like tissue that had developed in his neck.

The medics then inserted a series of screws and metal rods into the bones of his neck to correct his posture.

Six months following the surgery the patient was found to be easily able to hold his head in a horizontal position.

The man’s problems with lifting his head and swallowing had not returned during a follow-up a year later.

Medics eventually inserted a series of screws and metal rods into the bones of his neck to correct his posture (left). The results are six months after the procedure (right)

The experts concluded that their patient’s condition had likely been triggered by a combination of the long term effects of holding his neck in an awkward position while playing games on his phone and an ‘underlying developmental disorder’.

However, they urged for increased awareness of the dangers of excessive smartphone usage, paticularly as it is rising among young people.

Writing in the journal JOS Case Reports in 2023, the team said the patient and his family had consented to his case being published.

Dropped head syndrome—also known as floppy head syndrome — is characterised by severe weakness of the neck muscles.

While most commonly associated with neuromuscular disorders such as motor neurone disease it can be triggered by other conditions.

This includes substance abuse, with Iranian medics recently detailing a case involving a 23-year-old man who developed the condition after using amphetamine for years.