Skull 'sprouting' spikes suspected by smartphone addiction

Using many smart phones and portable electronic devices makes small spines appear in the area behind the neck, near the skull.

Scientists from the University of The Sunshine Coast (Australia) say more and more young patients come to the hospital with small spikes on the back of their necks . Normally, they have a length of about 2.6cm but some cases can be up to 3.1cm.

Photograph of a thorn behind the neck of a 28-year-old male patient.(Photo: David Shahar / Mark GL Sayers / Scientific Reports / CC).

On the Scientific Reports , the University of The Sunshine Coast scientists said the phenomenon of "rising" spines on the skull is also known as the protruding thorns outside the occipital area (EEOP) , mostly occurring in the elderly. However, a survey of more than 1,200 18-86 year old volunteers showed that 33% were subject to EEOP, most of them were from 18-30 year old men. Scientists say this situation began to appear in the 1990s and is increasingly popular.

"I have been a doctor for 20 years and found that over the past decade, the status of spikes that appear behind the skull has increased dramatically , " said David Shahar, a health expert at the University of The Sunshine Coast.

Currently, scientists have not found an exact link but argue that the use of electronic devices in the wrong posture leads to this situation. Sitting for hours with your neck turned or bent too low can put pressure on your skull and your body will react by appearing small spines to support it.