We are in a new age where kids have a vast array of electronics at their fingertips including smartphones, tablets, video games and the internet. Video games are increasing in usage and can be considered a major contributor to the "gaming disorder", which is acknowledged by the International Classification of Disease 11 (ICD 11) as gaming behavior that weakens one’s control over gaming and intensifies priority to gaming over other activities. We are now seeing the effects of this increased screen time. While it can provide endless hours of entertainment and education, harmful effects can also be seen. Children use these devices with their head tilted down and poor posture resulting in increased stress on the skull from attached structures and develop an exostosis at the external occipital protuberance (EOP). This is more commonly known as a bone spur, or excess bone formation on the surface of another bone. It will be painless until growth progresses leading to friction. There is no treatment for this benign growth. If discomfort remains or increases, then the bone may be shaved down to prevent chronic pain. The purpose of this study is to understand the mechanism of exostosis at the EOP and potential impact on bone scan.

Anna Grubmuller would like to thank their faculty sponsor Crystal Botkin for their support of this project.