Quadriplegia Prevention

Quadriplegia refers to a loss of sensation and movement in the upper and lower body, usually caused by a spinal cord injury or illness. Most often, spinal cord injury that causes quadriplegia is the result of a car accident, fall, act of violence or sports incident. Therefore, the primary concern in preventing quadriplegia usually involves taking preventive measures to ensure such accidents do not occur.

It is estimated that 11,000 people sustain spinal cord injuries each year. Of these, 47 percent - nearly half - lose mobility in all four limbs, becoming quadriplegic. There is no known cure for quadriplegia, and the majority of sufferers never regain full use of all four limbs. Because the population most at risk for spinal cord injuries is young males ages 15 to 30, education about the risks of careless behavior is a method of preventing quadriplegia among high school and college age students. Education about the risks of careless driving - in cars, motorcycles and even bicycles - can alert students to the physical, emotional and financial repercussions of spinal cord injury.

Preventing quadriplegia also means acknowledging the rise in violent acts that lead to spinal cord injury. Wounds from violence, such as gunshots and assaults, are the second-leading cause of paralysis. In preventing violence, educators, parents, law enforcement and counselors are also preventing quadriplegia.

Quadriplegia that occurs as the result of an illness or infection could be the result of a doctor''s malpractice. For example, complications during pregnancy or birth can lead to neurological defects, which may result in quadriplegia. Preventing quadriplegia in these instances requires extensive knowledge on the part of the medical personnel attending to the pregnant woman or the newborn.

Once a spinal cord injury or illness is sustained, it is again up to medical personnel to assist in preventing quadriplegia from occurring as a result. While paralyzing damage is almost instant in a spinal cord injury - the spinal cord swells within minutes - specialized medical training for teams who arrive at the scene of an accident could reduce or halt the progression of the disability, thus preventing quadriplegia in the accident victim. The most important factor in preventing quadriplegia in an accident victim is the care taken in moving the victim to the hospital. People with spinal cord damage should be treated as if any movement could result in significant damage.

If all efforts in preventing quadriplegia fail, and complete paralysis occurs, preventing quadriplegia complications becomes of great importance. Quadriplegia complications include bladder, bowel and sexual dysfunction, skin sores and respiratory problems. Because respiratory complications, especially pneumonia, are the leading cause of death for people with quadriplegia, preventing these complications is essential. When quadriplegia requires the use of a ventilator, it is imperative that patients be monitored for respiratory ailments and treated with antibiotics if symptoms appear.

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