Quadriplegia and Paraplegia
There are a variety of common causes for quadriplegia. Quadriplegia is often the result of traumatic injury to the spinal cord. Quadriplegia is the medical term
used to define
paralysis which affects the lower extremities, upper
extremities, and most, or all, of
the trunk from the neck down. Quadriplegic paralysis can be
complete or incomplete, depending on the extent and severity
of spinal nerve damage. Incomplete paralysis means that a
person may still retain some sensation and functioning in
the affected areas. Complete paralysis means that a person
has no feeling or functioning in the affected parts of the
body. There are a few common
causes for quadriplegia. Motor vehicle accidents account for
fifty five percent of all the causes for quadriplegia. Falls
account for approximately fifteen percent of all
quadriplegia cases. Sports injuries and medical conditions
account for about one-quarter of all the causes for
quadriplegia. Of the
sports injuries that cause spinal cord
damage, approximately ninety percent are the
causes of quadriplegia. Violence is another
one of the major causes for quadriplegia. An
astoundingly estimated fifteen percent of
all causes for quadriplegia are the result
of gunshot wounds and other forms of
physical violence. Regardless of the causes
for quadriplegia, all injuries that result
in quadriplegia are usually quite serious
and result in extensive temporary or
permanent paralysis and disability. Less
than one percent of quadriplegics fully
recover from their injuries. The longer that
a person suffers the serious symptoms of
quadriplegia, the less likely they are to
recover. The sector of the population most
likely to suffer from the causes for
quadriplegia is males (82 percent of all
cases) between the ages of sixteen to
twenty-five (61 percent of all cases).
Approximately eight to twelve thousand
people each year in the United States suffer
injuries that are the causes for
quadriplegia.In addition to losing feeling in the affected areas, quadriplegia can also impair or eliminate functioning in the organs and other body parts. People with quadriplegia often experience a loss of bladder and bowel control and sexual dysfunction. People who have endured the causes for quadriplegia may have difficulty breathing or no longer be able to breathe without assistance. Low blood pressure may also be a problem for quadriplegics. There are medical methods available to treat the symptoms and causes for quadriplegia. Surgery on the spinal cord is not an option though surgery may be necessary to stabilize the spine, facilitate movement, or fit a ventilator. A team of professionals can develop a rehabilitation plan in order to assist a quadriplegic patient and facilitate improvement of an individual’s impairments. Bowel and bladder programs, mechanical support devices, medications, and a variety of therapies can all be utilized to treat a patient with quadriplegia.
If a person suffers the causes for quadriplegia as a result of another person’s negligent or willful actions, that person may be eligible to seek compensation for their losses. To learn more about the causes for quadriplegia, you may wish to speak with an attorney. At the Law Offices of Vincent J. Ciecka, P.C. we highly specialize and been very successful in obtaining high recoveries in quadriplegia resulted injury related cases. If you have a situation where you or someone you know might be a victim of this type of injury due to the negligence of someone else, please contact us as soon as possible to discuss your specifics and help you determine if indeed you have a case so you can obtain due compensation for such injuries.
