Quadriplegia is referred as the condition in which a person suffers a four limb paralysis. This usually happens as a result of cervical injuries. Quadriplegia is also called Tetraplegia. Based on the severity of the injury, there are several levels defined in Quadriplegia. In levels C-4 and above, the person may require ventilators or electrical implants to breathe. This is because any damage to spinal nerves present in the upper level of the neck directly affects the diaphragm. Similarly, different levels determine dysfunction of various parts of the body. C-5 affects wrist or hand, C-6 hand function; C-7 may straighten arms but result in dexterity problems in hands and wrist.
There are many causes of Quadriplegia. A car accident or a mishap during a sport activity is the most common cause of neck injuries, hence often leading to Quadriplegia. A spinal disease like a tumor may also be one of the causes of quadriplegia. The lesions caused by any of the above affect the person's mobility of all limbs partially or completely.
Most common accidents resulting in trauma, hence Quadriplegia are auto accident, gunshot wound, and fall or sport injury. This may affect the person's lower extremities, upper extremities or the entire trunk from the neck down. Most common diseases which result in Quadriplegia are transverse myelitis, polio and spina bifida.
The first symptom of quadriplegia is loss of a person's movement after an accident or inactivity due to illness. Loss of sensation, loss of sensitivity to heat, cold and touch, loss of bowel and bladder control exaggerated reflex activities, uncontrollable hand movements and drooling are other few symptoms of quadriplegia. A spinal cord injury above the neck also results in inability to breathe without a respirator. Injuries below the neck affect limbs and other lower parts of the body.
Every patient of Quadriplegia needs to be treated differently based on his level and severity of condition. Patients may have a different nature of injury causing quadriplegia. The first area of treatment is the dysfunctional part of the body as a result of injury. Spinal cord treatment prevents and controls further damage to spinal cord, thereby bringing people back to normal life with certain disabilities. Conservative treatment of pressure sores are used in stages 1 and 2 of the injury. The treatment includes appropriate wound care, debridement of necrotic tissue, nutrition optimization, pressure release and Muscle spasticity minimization. This treatment gives the person an opportunity to heal with time and slowly retire to normal life.