Paraplegia and tetraplegia are conditions that cause partial paralysis of the body due to spinal cord injury, disease, trauma, or birth defects. Paraplegics are paralyzed from the waist down, while quadriplegics have paralysis from the neck down. Treatment can slow and reduce spinal cord damage, but there is no cure. Paralysis puts patients at risk for various health problems, but many people with paralysis lead fulfilling lives and can participate in sports and other activities.
Paraplegia and tetraplegia are both serious conditions involving partial paralysis of the body. In the case of paraplegia, the patient is paralyzed from the waist down, while a quadriplegic has paralysis that affects the body from the neck down. Paralysis is caused by a spinal cord injury and can be partial or total, depending on the nature of the injury and how it was treated. US President Franklin D. Roosevelt is a well-known example of a paraplegic; scientist Steven Hawking is a quadriplegic.
Three things can lead to paraplegia or tetraplegia: disease, trauma, and birth defects. A paraplegic has a spinal cord injury in the lower spine, causing loss of sensation and mobility in the legs and lower trunk; in many cases, paraplegics have problems with the internal organs of the lower body, such as the bladders. A quadriplegic has a higher spinal lesion, usually in the cervical spine, and in addition to limited mobility in the arms and legs, may have a number of problems related to lack of control over internal organs.
Diseases such as polio, syphilis, Lou Gehrig’s disease and multiple sclerosis have all been linked to complete or partial paralysis. Trauma such as a gunshot wound or a heavy fall can also damage the spinal cord, while congenital conditions such as spina bifida cause problems from birth. In all cases, the earlier the problem is diagnosed, the better the prognosis for the patient. Paraplegia and tetraplegia cannot be cured, but treatment can slow and reduce the extent of spinal cord damage, allowing the patient greater mobility.
A totally paralyzed paraplegic cannot move his legs at all and has no sensation. Partial paralysis can allow a paraplegic to move their toes or legs, but usually only with great difficulty. In the case of quadriplegics, also known as quadriplegics, partial paralysis is much more common, because total paralysis would mean that the patient’s internal organs could not function, requiring extensive supportive care from medical devices.
Being a quadriplegic or a paraplegic can be difficult. Paralysis puts the patient at risk for a variety of health problems, including fractures, pneumonia, infections, bed sores, and cardiovascular problems. Supportive care may be needed, especially for quadriplegics. However, many people with paralysis live very fulfilling and sometimes active lives; both quadriplegics and paraplegics can compete in the Paralympics, for example, and some paraplegics engage in activities such as extreme wheelchair sports and para-horse riding.
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