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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.
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