Tetraplegia

tetraplegia or quadriplegia (also, tetraplegia, quadraplegia) is a clinical sign in which It produces total or partial paralysis of the arms and legs caused by damage to the spinal cord, specifically in one of the cervical vertebrae, or by a disease that affects motor neurons, as may be the case in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In some cases, following an intensive rehabilitation, some mobility can be recovered.

Any damage to the spinal cord is a very complex injury. Every injury is different and can affect the body in a number of different ways.

Tetraplegia as a consequence of a cervical lesion is perhaps the most difficult type of spinal trauma in terms of rehabilitation and insertion into society. Basically, the spinal cord is like a channel where the orders from the brain are transferred to the extremities of the body, so the higher the lesion, the more difficult the treatment will be because the number of members increases without control. Currently, when the trauma has settled, it is irreversible, although it is not ruled out that in the not too distant future, science will find a way to reverse the consequences, since stem cells are now being investigated.

The first seven vertebrae in the neck are called the cervical. The first vertebra on top is C1, the next is C2, etc. Cervical spinal cord injuries usually cause loss of function in the arms and legs, resulting in quadriplegia.

• injuries above C4 can lead the person to need a mechanical fan to help him breathe
• lesions at level C5, often retain control of shoulders and biceps, but do not control the hand or fist
• when they are in C6, they allow fist control, but not hand functionality
• People with C7 injury may stretch their arms, but they may still have problems of skill in the use of the hand and fingers.

Complications

• Long and frequent hospitalizations.
• Increased possibility of intrahospital infections.
• Reduced mobility.
• Decubitus ulcers.
• Involuntary control of the bladder and intestine.
• urinary tract infections.
• Kidney stones (stones in the kidney).
• Muscle spasms.
• Loss of sensitivity, touch, pain and temperature.
• Decayed respiratory function,
• Fertility is often affected in the male but not in the female.
• Many people with spinal cord injury still have a certain sensation in the paralyzed parts of your body, feel of touch or pain.

Types of tetraplegia

There are two common types of tetraplegia:

• Totalwithout movement of the four members
• PartialThey move their arms but not their fingers

There are other types but if it is a lower injury, physiotherapy is a great option and if it is a higher trauma, the chances of surviving the injury are almost nil. Within each type of tetraplegia, the classification of the lesion is also given: if it is a total lesion there will be no sensation below the trauma and if it is a partial lesion there will be sensations below the trauma.

According to the American Spinal Cord Injury Association (ASIA), spinal cord injuries can be classified into complete spinal cord injury and incomplete spinal cord injury, dividing it into 5 groups from “A” to “E”.

• Full Medular Injury A: There is no sensitive or motor preservation below the level of the injury and is covered by sacral segments, i.e. there is no sensitivity or control to spoil or defecate.
• Incomplete medular lesion B: there is preservation of sensitivity, but it does not motor below the neurological level, covering sacral segments, that is, there is sensitivity to defecate and miction, but not voluntary control.
• Incomplete Medullation C: There is preservation of sensitivity and strength below the level of injury, but the muscles are weak and considered non-functional.
• Incomplete Medular lesion D: muscles below the neurological level are functional at 75%.
• Incomplete Medullation E: strength and sensitivity are practically normal.

• Tetraplegia should not be confused with paraplegia.