A 25-year-old woman in China has suffered a severe spinal injury after falling down a flight of stairs while using her mobile phone, leaving her at risk of paralysis and highlighting once again the dangers of distracted walking.
According to Red Star News, the woman, referred to as “Xiao Qiu” (pseudonym), was descending a staircase when she became absorbed in her phone and failed to notice the steps ahead. She lost her footing, fell heavily, and landed forcefully on her back.
She recalled being unable to move immediately after the fall and was rushed to hospital. Doctors later confirmed she had suffered a burst fracture of the lumbar spine, warning that without urgent surgery she faced a high risk of permanent paralysis.
Medical experts from Beijing’s Xuanwu Hospital, including orthopaedic specialist Dr Wang Juyong, described the case as a serious emergency. He explained that the impact had severely crushed the patient’s spinal vertebrae, with bone fragments shifting backwards and compressing the spinal canal, leaving only about one-third of its normal space.
Doctors also noted that the patient had already begun showing signs of neurological impairment, including loss of control over bowel and bladder functions, making the situation critical and time-sensitive.
A complex emergency surgery was carried out overnight in an attempt not only to stabilise her spine but also to preserve her neurological functions and prevent lifelong disability.
The operation, described by the surgeon as “working on the tip of a needle,” lasted around three and a half hours and was successfully completed.
While the surgery was successful, doctors say her full recovery remains uncertain, and it is still unclear whether she will regain normal mobility and bodily control in the long term.
