What is Quadriplegia?

Quadriplegia is a condition in which you lose the capacity to move or feel certain parts of your body. It usually occurs after a serious injury to your neck or back. This condition prevents someone from moving their arms, hands, legs, or feet.

This condition is known as tetraplegia. Both words have the same meaning. The "quad" or "tetra" part of the name refers to four. This is because it affects all of your limbs. It changes the way your brain interacts with the rest of your body.

Who does quadriplegia affect?

Anyone can get quadriplegia if they have a major accident, but it happens to some groups of people more than others.

• Young adults: People ages 16 to 30 are most likely to develop this condition. This is usually because they are more likely to be in high-speed crashes or engage in risky sports.
• Males: Boys and men make up about 80% of all people with spinal cord injuries.
• Older adults: People over 65 can also develop this condition. For older people, it usually happens from a bad fall at home.

How common is quadriplegia?

This condition is not particularly widespread, but it affects thousands of people worldwide each year. According to experts, more than half of all persons who have spinal cord injuries develop quadriplegia. Every year, thousands of new families must learn how to live with this disease.

How does quadriplegia affect my body?

To understand how this condition works, it helps to know how your body sends messages. Your brain is like the main computer for your body. Your spinal cord is like a thick bundle of wires that goes down your back.

Your brain sends electricity down the spinal cord wires to tell your arms to move or your legs to walk. The spinal cord also takes feelings, like heat or pain, from your skin back up to your brain.

When someone gets quadriplegia, the spinal cord in their neck gets crushed or torn.

• The block: Think of it like a highway that gets blocked by a giant rockslide. The messages from the brain cannot get past the hurt spot in the neck.
• The result: Because the messages are blocked, the brain cannot tell the arms or legs to move. Also, feelings from the body cannot get up to the brain. This means the person cannot feel touch, heat, or cold below their neck.

The exact spot where the hurt happens matters a lot. If the injury is very high up on the neck, it can even stop the muscles that help you breathe.

What are the symptoms of quadriplegia?

The main symptom is not being able to move or feel your arms and legs. But a hurt spinal cord can cause many other problems too.

The symptoms usually include:

• No movement: You cannot move your fingers, hands, arms, feet, or legs.
• No feeling: You cannot feel when someone touches you. You also cannot feel pain, heat, or cold in those areas.
• Trouble breathing: If the injury is high up in the neck, your chest muscles might not work. Some people need a machine to breathe for them.
• Spasms: Sometimes, your legs or arms might shake or kick on their own. This happens because the wires in the spinal cord are confused and send random signals to the muscles.
• Loss of control for bathroom use: You might lose control over when you pee or poop. This happens because the brain cannot talk to the bladder or bowel muscles anymore.
• Changes in heart rate and blood pressure: Your body might have trouble staying at the right temperature or keeping your blood pressure steady.

What causes quadriplegia?

Most of the time, this condition happens because of a sudden accident. The most common causes are:

• Car and motorcycle crashes: This is the top cause of spinal injuries for younger people.
• Bad falls: This is the top cause for older people. Slipping on ice or falling down stairs can snap the neck bones.
• Sports injuries: Diving into shallow water and hitting the bottom is a very common way to hurt the neck. Football, rugby, and extreme sports can also cause it.
• Acts of violence: Getting hurt by a weapon can cut the spinal cord.
• Diseases: Sometimes, a person can get quadriplegia without an accident. This can happen from a tumor growing inside the spine, or from a bad infection that damages the nervous system.

Can quadriplegia spread from person to person?

No. This condition is not like a cold or a flu. It only happens because of a physical injury or a specific medical problem inside a person's own body. You cannot catch it from anyone else.

How is quadriplegia diagnosed?

When someone has a bad accident and cannot move, emergency workers are very careful with their neck. Doctors use special tests to see exactly what is wrong with the spine.

• X-rays: This test takes a quick picture of the bones. It shows if the neck bones are broken or out of place.
• CT scans: This is like a giant donut machine that takes detailed pictures of the spine from different angles. It helps doctors see the bones much better than a normal X-ray.
• MRI scans: This test uses magnets to look at soft tissues. It is the best tool to see the actual spinal cord and see if it is bruised, swollen, or torn.
• Physical tests: A doctor will gently touch different parts of the skin to see what the person can feel. They will also ask the person to try moving their fingers or toes.

How is quadriplegia treated, and is there a cure?

Right now, there is no cure that can fix a torn spinal cord completely. Once the main nerve wires are cut, they do not grow back easily. However, doctors can do a lot of things to help the person stay healthy and get some independence back.

Treatment happens in two parts: emergency care and long-term help.

Emergency treatment

This happens right after the accident. The main goal is to stop more damage from happening.

• Surgery: Surgeons often need to operate right away. They might use metal plates, screws, or rods to hold the neck bones straight so they stop pressing on the spinal cord.
• Medications: Doctors use drugs to help keep blood pressure steady and protect the body from swelling.

Long-term treatment

This is about learning how to live with the injury. It involves a large team of helpers.

• Physical therapy: This involves special exercises to keep the muscles from getting too stiff. Therapists help the person strengthen any muscles that still work.
• Occupational therapy: This helps the person learn new ways to do daily tasks. They learn how to use special tools to eat, write, or use a computer.
• Special equipment: People use motorized wheelchairs that they can steer with their hands, a joystick, or even by blowing air into a tube. They might also use voice-controlled computers to rule their home environment.

What are the possible complications or side effects of the treatments?

Living with this condition can cause other health problems over time.

• Pressure sores: Since a person cannot move or feel pain, sitting in one spot for too long can cause deep skin sores. Helpers have to turn the person regularly to protect their skin.
• Lung infections: If a person has weak chest muscles, they cannot cough well. This makes it easy for germs to get trapped in the lungs, which can cause pneumonia.
• Blood clots: Because the legs do not move, blood can pool in the veins and create dangerous clots.

What can I expect if I have quadriplegia?

An injury like this changes your life instantly. In the beginning, a person usually stays in the hospital for a long time. They have to learn how to do everything in a new way.

Some people have an "incomplete" injury. This means the spinal cord is only bruised, not fully cut. These people might get some movement or feeling back over many months. Other people have a "complete" injury, which means no messages can get through at all. For them, the paralysis is usually permanent.

How long does quadriplegia last?

For most people, this is a lifelong condition. While the initial swelling in the spine will go down after a few weeks, the main nerve damage stays the same. People will need help with daily care for the rest of their lives.

What's the outlook for quadriplegia?

The outlook is much better today than it was in the past. Thanks to modern equipment and better medicine, people can live for many decades with this condition. Many people go back to school, get jobs, play adaptive sports, and live very happy lives.

How can I reduce my risk of developing quadriplegia?

Since most cases happen from accidents, you can lower your risk by practicing safety habits:

• Wear a seatbelt: Always buckle up every time you are in a vehicle.
• Check the water depth: Never dive into a pool or a body of water unless you know it is very deep. Walk in feet-first instead.
• Wear safety gear: Use proper helmets and pads when playing sports or riding a bike.
• Make stairs safe: Keep stairs clear of clutter and use handrails to avoid falling.

How do I take care of myself?

If you are living with this condition, taking care of your health helps avoid hospital visits.

• Move your body often: Have your family or helpers move your arms and legs every day to keep them flexible. Change your sitting position frequently to protect your skin.
• Drink plenty of water: This keeps your bladder clean and helps prevent painful infections.
• Practice deep breathing: Take deep breaths often to keep your lungs clear and strong.

When should I call a doctor?

People with this condition need to watch out for quick changes in their body. You should call for medical help right away if you notice:

• A high fever or chills: This is often a sign of a lung or bladder infection.
• Skin changes: Red spots or open sores on your backside, heels, or hips.
• A sudden, severe headache: This can be a sign of a dangerous condition where your blood pressure spikes because of a problem below the injury line.
• Trouble catching your breath: If breathing suddenly feels much harder than usual.

Why choose Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for Quadriplegia Treatment in Lucknow, India?

Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital offers advanced Quadriplegia treatment in Lucknow, India, at an affordable cost. We have a team of experienced neurosurgeons and rehabilitation specialists who provide accurate diagnosis and both non-surgical and surgical treatment options including spinal cord injury management, assistive technology support, and comprehensive neurological rehabilitation procedures. Our Neurosurgery and Rehabilitation Care team has decades of experience in successfully treating Quadriplegia in Lucknow, India.

To seek an Expert Consultation for Quadriplegia Treatment in Lucknow, India:

Call us at +91-9076972161
Email at care@tenderpalm.com

Request a Call Back