Tetraplegia is a Greek term for quadriplegia. The causes of tetraplegia can be various problems, including various injuries and even certain autoimmune diseases. The changes in the spinal cord that lead to tetraplegia are irreversible - so what treatment is offered to patients with tetraplegia?
Tetraplegia(aka quadriplegia, quadriplegia) is a term derived from the Greek language. It was created from the combination of the words tetra (meaning four) and plege (understood as a blow). Tetraplegia is defined as a condition in which all four limbs are paralyzed, i.e. both upper limbs and both lower limbs.
Tetraplegia: causes
Tetraplegia develops in connection with damage to the structures of the brain or spinal cord - it occurs primarily when the cervical section of the spinal cord is damaged. Possible causes of tetraplegia include:
- various injuries (quadriplegic paralysis may develop in victims of road accidents, but also in connection with the injuries of the spine caused by jumping into shallow water reservoirs, which, unfortunately, often occur in the summer),
- autoimmune diseases (quadriplegia can appear in advanced stages of multiple sclerosis, but also in the course of Guillain-Barré syndrome)
- tumors (especially advanced) involving the structures of the brain or spinal cord
- stroke
- spinal cord infections (tetraplegia may occur, among others, in the course of polio)
- cerebral palsy
Tetraplegia: Symptoms
The basic symptoms of tetraplegia include paralysis of all four limbs of the patient, as mentioned earlier. In the course of the problem, there are both sensory disturbances and the inability to move paralyzed limbs. It is worth paying a little more attention to what the symptoms of tetraplegia are, because some people mistakenly believe that the patient suffering from it is unable to move at all or that he does not feel anything at all. It doesn't have to be this way.
The symptoms of tetraplegia can varyseverity - it depends primarily on the height at which the spinal cord is damaged. The higher the lesion is located, the typically intensity of symptoms is, unfortunately, greater.
The sensory disturbances appearing in patients with tetraplegia may take various forms - in patients there may be complete loss of feeling, but also sensations such as tingling. It is possible for them to develop neuropathic pains.
In the case of movement disorders in people with tetraplegia, they can also be different. Some patients are not able to move their affected limbs at all, while others have, for example, the ability to raise an arm, while they are not able to move their fingers.
It is worth mentioning here that the symptoms of tetraplegia may affect not only the limbs - in some patients, part of the chest, abdomen and back are also paralyzed.
Tetraplegia: consequences
It is probably not difficult to guess that tetraplegia significantly affects the daily functioning of patients. Affected people are usually incapable of independent existence - they have difficulties with eating meals, moving around or carrying out basic physiological activities. Most patients with quadriplegia require the use of wheelchairs.
The problems mentioned above are, unfortunately, definitely not the only consequences of tetraplegia. Patients suffering from it have an increased risk of developing many different ailments, including muscle wasting or joint contracture, they can also develop spasticity.
Since many patients with tetraplegia spend most of their time in bed, they are at increased risk of problems such as:
- osteoporosis,
- pneumonia
- Does venous thromboembolism.
In addition, patients may develop pressure ulcers that are difficult to treat. Occasionally tetraplegic patients lose control of their sphincter function.
Tetraplegia: treatment
Currently, there are no methods that can cure tetraplegia - the damage to the spinal cord that causes it is unfortunately irreversible. Regardless of this, patients are definitely offered treatment, which mainly consists of regular rehabilitation.
Contrary to appearances, you can achieve a lot thanks to exercise. Treatment of tetraplegia allows to increase the efficiency of patients, rehabilitation may also reduce the risk of consequencestetraplegia, such as muscle atrophy.
It is worth emphasizing here that a physiotherapist is not the only specialist who should look after patients with tetraplegia. The loss of the ability to function independently is certainly a very heavy burden on the patient's psyche, which is an indication that he should be provided with regular psychological support.
Tetraplegia: prognosis
Patients with tetraplegia require medical care throughout their lives. However, it is worth remembering that thanks to regular rehabilitation, it is possible to achieve improvement and enable the patient to function at least partially independently.
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