Dr Meher Thej AIIMS — Quadriplegia: what is it, symptoms and treatment

Tetraplegia is another name for quadriplegia; it refers to paralysis from the neck down, including the trunk, legs and arms. This condition is usually caused by an injury to the spinal cord, which contains nerves that carry movement and sensation messages from the brain to different parts of the body. Quadriparesis is different from quadriplegia. According to Dr. Boorgula Meher Thej, A person with quadriparesis can still move and feel portions of their limbs. A person with quadriplegia is incapable of moving any of their limbs at all.

Causes of Quadriplegia by Dr Boorgula Meher Thej

The two main causes of quadriplegia are spinal cord injury and brain damage (which has many additional unforeseen outcomes, including changes in persons consciousness, memory, thinking and mood).

The majority of spinal cord injuries are caused by accidents, including car accidents, motorcycle accidents, falls, gunshot wounds, surgical complications, pedestrian accidents, being struck by flying objects, sports injuries, and diving mishaps.

Classification of severity is:

• Complete spinal cord injury A: It is a most serious type of spinal cord injury. Such a patient has no sensation or motor function below the injury.
• Incomplete spinal cord injury B: This type of patient has some sensation, , but the motor function is limited below the injury.
• Type C: more than 50% muscles are weak, with inability to move against gravity
• Type D: less than 50% of the muscles are weak.
• Incomplete spinal cord injury E: It is a minor type of spinal cord injury. Such a patient has almost normal sensation and strength.

Quadriplegia can also be caused:

• Multiple sclerosis: This is a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord, where the immune system attacks the protective sheath (myelin) that covers nerve fibers and causes communication problems between your brain and the rest of your body.
• Lou Gehrig’s disease, commonly known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Lou Gehrig’s disease, commonly known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: , It is a progressive nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control.
• Transverse myelitis: Transverse myelitis is irritation of both sides of a segment of the spinal cord. This neurological problem regularly damages the insulating material covering nerve cell fibers (myelin). Transverse myelitis interferes with the messages that the spinal nerves send throughout the body. This can cause pain, paralysis, sensory problems, muscle weakness, or bladder and bowel dysfunction.
• Guillain-Barré disease: Guillain-Barré syndrome occurs when your body’s immune system attacks your nerves. Initial side symptoms are often weakness and tingling in your range. These feelings can happen immediately. And eventually paralyzes your whole body.

Symptoms of Quadriplegia:

The basic symptoms of Quadriplegia:

• Numbness throughout body including all the 4 limbs.
• Urinary retention or incontinence with bowel dysfunction due to lack of smooth muscle control.
• Breathing Problems

Medical Tests for Quadriplegia:

According to Dr Meher Thej AIIMS. Doctors will evaluate patients’ complaints, look into the medical background, examine the patient’s motor and sensory abilities.

Apart from that, various medical tests are done:

• X-Rays
• CT Scan
• MRI Scan
• Spinal Taps
• Blood Tests
• EMG Tests

Treatment of Quadriplegia:

Treatment depends on the cause of the Quadriplegia, extent of injury and the condition of patient. You need to consult a neurosurgeon. Patients with quadriplegia are unable to control their bodies or senses. For moving around, eating, using the bathroom, and for each other’s daily needs, they are always dependent on associates.

Treatment for Quadriplegic Patients include:

• Respiratory care
• Skin management and skin care
• Exercises to improve movement and strength
• Occupational therapy
• Bowel and bladder control programmes
• Prevention of Deep vein thrombosis
• Prevention of bed sore

About the Dr Meher Thej AIIMS

Dr. Boorgula Meher Thej is a great neurosurgeon. He is a neuro-onco surgeon, pediatric neurosurgeon, spine surgeon, and neurotrauma. He operated approximately 150 cases of neuro-oncology, neuro-trauma, CSF-diversion, and intracranial hemorrhage as primary surgeon. Boorgula Meher Thej’s mission in life is to have a successful neurosurgical career involving all the aspects of neurosurgery, serve people, and grow himself.