What does "high paraplegia" mean?
Disease description:
I recently came across the term "quadriplegia" (or "high paraplegia") and am not entirely sure what it means. I would like to understand whether quadriplegia means the body cannot move from the neck down. What exactly does this term refer to?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Chen Jian
Quadriplegia refers to a severe disability condition caused by damage to the spinal cord at the cervical or upper thoracic level, resulting in complete or partial loss of motor, sensory, and autonomic nervous system functions below the level of injury. This type of injury usually occurs at a higher level of the spinal cord, such as in the cervical or upper thoracic regions, hence the term "high-level."
Main symptoms include motor dysfunction, such as inability to perform voluntary movement and muscle stiffness; bladder and bowel dysfunction, such as urinary and fecal incontinence; and autonomic nervous system disorders, such as palpitations, chest tightness, stomach pain, and vomiting. In such conditions, patients may require mechanical ventilation or other assistive devices to sustain life. Additionally, due to loss of sensation, patients are prone to complications such as pressure ulcers and urinary tract infections.
Treatment methods for quadriplegia include pharmacological therapy, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy, psychological therapy, and surgical intervention. Moreover, patients should also pay attention to maintaining a balanced diet and engaging in appropriate exercise in daily life to promote overall physical recovery.
