Correlation of Cervical Spinal Degeneration with Rise in Smartphone Usage Time in Young Adults

Abstract

Aims: The study aimed to define the association between spinal degeneration parameters and the rise in smartphone usage time. This was a cross‑sectional study. Subjects and Methods: Young adults aged 20–35 years, who presented to our outpatient clinic due to neck pain between 2016 and 2018, were examined. Cervical disc degeneration, disc placement, Modic changes, and sagittal balance were retrospectively measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 107 relatively patients. Data about daily phone usage times of the participants were obtained by a questionnaire filled in at the time of admission. Results: The total number of disc distances analyzed was 535 (Group 1; n = 200, Group 2; 335). In Group 1, the disc displacement was present in 30%, and in Group 2, the disc displacement was present in 35%. In terms of DD severity, the total DD score was >10 in 18 (18/40; 45%) patients in Group 1, and in 39 patients (39/67; 58%) in Group 2. The mean Cobb angle of Group 1 was 10.3° ± 6.57° (range, 2° to 34°), and that of Group 2 was 7.6° ± 5.14° (range, 1° to 26°) (Pcobb = 0.048). Modic changes were detected in 17 of the 107 patients (15.8%). Of the 17 patients, 3 (3/40, %7.5) were Group 1 and 14 (14/67, %20.9) were Group 2. MC was detected in 4 vertebrae in Group 1, and 24 vertebrae in Group 2 (P = 0.001) Conclusions: The analysis of cervical spine MRI data of young adult patients with neck pain shows that the smartphone usage time is effective in cervical sagittal balance disruption, disc degeneration, and development of Modic changes.