Paraplegia and quadriplegia are both serious conditions which involve partial paralysis of the body. In the case of paraplegia, the patient is paralyzed from the waist down, while a quadriplegic has paralysis which affects the body from the neck down. The paralysis is caused by an injury to the spinal cord, and it may be partial or total, depending on the nature of the injury and how it was treated. American President Franklin D. Roosevelt is a well-known example of a paraplegic; scientist Steven Hawking is a quadriplegic.
Three things can lead to paraplegia or quadriplegia: disease, trauma, and congenital diseases. A paraplegic has a spinal cord injury in the lower spine, which causes loss of feeling and mobility in the legs and lower trunk; in many cases, paraplegics have problems with the internal organs in their lower bodies, such as their bladders. A quadriplegic has a higher spinal injury, usually in the cervical spine, and in addition to limited mobility in the arms and legs, he or she may have a number of problems related to lack of control over the internal organs.
Diseases like poliomyelitis, syphilis, Lou Gehrig's disease, and multiple sclerosis have all been linked to complete or partial paralysis. Trauma such as a gunshot wound or heavy fall can also damage the spinal cord, while congenital conditions such as spina bifida cause problems from birth. In all instances, the sooner the problem is diagnosed, the better the prognosis for the patient. Paraplegia and quadriplegia cannot be cured, but treatment can slow and reduce the extent of the damage to the spinal cord, allowing the patient more mobility.
A totally paralyzed paraplegic cannot move the legs at all, and has no sensation. Partial paralysis may allow a paraplegic to move the toes or legs, but usually only with great difficulty. In the case of quadriplegics, also known as tetraplegics, partial paralysis is much more common, because total paralysis would mean that the patient's internal organs could not function, requiring extensive supportive care from medical devices.
Being a quadriplegic or paraplegic can be challenging. The paralysis puts the patient at risk for a range of health problems, including fractures, pneumonia, infections, bed sores, and cardiovascular problems. Supportive care may be required, especially for quadriplegics. However, many people with paralysis live very fulfilling and sometimes active lives; both quadriplegics and paraplegics can compete in the Paralympics, for example, and some paraplegics enjoy activities such as extreme wheelchair sports and para-equestrian sport.
