Quadriplegia natural history, complications and prognosis
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Complications[1][2]
- Pressure sores
- Osteoporosis
- Fractures
- Frozen joints
- Spasticity
- Respiratory complications and infections
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Autonomic dysreflexia
- Cardiovascular disease
Prognosis
Delayed diagnosis of cervical spine injury has grave consequences for the victim. About one in 20 cervical fractures are missed and about two-thirds of these patients have further spinal-cord damage as a result. About 30% of cases of delayed diagnosis of cervical spine injury develop permanent neurological deficits. In high-level cervical injuries, total paralysis from the neck can result. High-level tetraplegics (C4 and higher) will likely need constant care and assistance in activities of daily living, such as getting dressed, eating and bowel and bladder care. Low-level tetraplegics (C5 to C7) can often live independently.[citation needed]
Even with "complete" injuries, in some rare cases, through intensive rehabilitation, slight movement can be regained through "rewiring" neural connections, as in the case of the late actor Christopher Reeve.[3]
In the case of cerebral palsy, which is caused by damage to the motor cortex either before, during (10%) or after birth and some tetraplegics are gradually able to learn to stand or walk through physical therapy.
References
- ↑ Schurch B, Knapp PA, Jeanmonod D, Rodic B, Rossier AB (1998). "Does sacral posterior rhizotomy suppress autonomic hyper-reflexia in patients with spinal cord injury?". Br J Urol. 81 (1): 73–82. PMID 9467480. Unknown parameter
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ignored (help) - ↑ Spinal cord injury: Possible complications
- ↑ "Man of steel — Christopher Reeve talks about life as a quadriplegic". The Guardian. September 17, 2002.