How Do Paraplegia and Quadriplegia Differ?
Each year, approximately 17,900 people in the U.S. experience an injury serious enough to damage their spinal cord. When a spinal cord injury is severe enough, it can cause paralysis, such as paraplegia and quadriplegia. The exact type of paralysis depends on where the injury is located.
The differences in the types of paralysis caused by an injury determine how a person’s life is affected and how they can expect to function in the future. These differences are key factors when considering what damages the accident victim is eligible to receive.
Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries
Many people do not survive a catastrophic accident that is serious enough to cause spinal cord injury (SCI). Those who do may face some type of permanent paralysis. SCIs are divided into two general categories: complete and incomplete.
If the injury is classified as complete, the person will have no sensation, ability to move, or ability to control automatic functions such as going to the bathroom. With an incomplete injury, the person can still feel or move below the injured area, but not as completely as they did before.
The severity of the SCI isn’t the only factor. It also matters which part of the spine is injured. The human spine is divided into three regions. The first section, the cervical spine, consists of the first seven vertebrae. The thoracic section — the middle region of the spine — has a total of 12 vertebrae. The lower spine contains five vertebrae and is called the lumbar spine.
What Is Paraplegia?
Paraplegia can happen when an injury occurs to either the thoracic or lumbar section of the spine. Depending on which spinal nerves are injured, a person may experience paralysis of their hips, legs, and abdominal muscles, as well as loss of bowel and bladder control.
An injury to the lowest part of the lumbar spine could cause incomplete paraplegia that allows the person to walk with assistive devices. For example, a person injured in an auto accident could still walk if the spinal cord injury is low and incomplete.
What Is Quadriplegia?
Quadriplegia is a pattern of paralysis that develops from the neck down. It is sometimes also known as tetraplegia. Involved muscles may be considered flaccid, meaning they don’t function at all, or spastic, which means they contract uncontrollably and don’t function by themselves.
An SCI that happens in the cervical spine can cause all four limbs and the muscles that control breathing to become paralyzed. These types of injuries almost always lead to death without immediate medical intervention, such as breathing support.
The higher the injury is on the spine, the more devastating it will be. A complete or incomplete SCI to the first or second cervical vertebrae can cut the connections between the brain and the autonomic nervous system, which controls functions such as blood pressure, digestion, and even perspiration.
Long Term Outcomes
People with either paraplegia or quadriplegia will need expensive ongoing medical care for the rest of their lives. Depending on the exact nature of their injury, they may be completely dependent on others for their financial and personal care.
The damages owed to an individual in a wheelchair who can still function independently may be less than those owed to a person who requires breathing support for the rest of their lives, but this compensation is no less important.
Without fair financial compensation, an accident victim living with any type of paralysis may have limited quality of life or may not survive at all.
Contact the Jacksonville Personal Injury Law Firm of Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers Today For Help
For more information, please contact the Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra personal injury law firm of Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.
We serve Duval County, St. Johns County, and its surrounding areas:
Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers – Jacksonville
9471 Baymeadows Rd #105,
Jacksonville, FL 32256
(904) 396-1100
Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers – Downtown Jacksonville
121 W. Forsyth St. #170,
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 822-4225
Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers – Ponte Vedra
480 Town Plaza Ave #130,
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32081
(904) 675-1167