Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Quadriplegia overview
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Quadriplegia is a symptom in which a human experiences paralysis affecting all four limbs, although not necessarily total paralysis or loss of function. The condition is also termed tetraplegia. Both terms mean “paralysis of four limbs”; however, tetraplegia is becoming the more commonly accepted term for this condition. “Tetra”, like “plegia”, has a Greek root, whereas “quadra” has a Latin root.
Epidemiology and Demographics
Epidemiology and Demographics
There are about 5,000 cervical spinal cord injuries per year in the United States (~1 in 60,000—assuming a population of 300 million), and about 1,000 per year in the UK (also ~1 in 60,000—assuming a population of 60 million). In 1988, it was estimated that lifetime care of a 27-year-old rendered tetraplegic was about US $1 million and that the total national costs were US $5.6 billion per year. It currently costs between $520,000 to $550,000 per year to care for a ventilator dependent tetraplegic.[1]
References
References
- ↑ Susanne R. Hayes, M.S., R.N., C.R.R.N., Adaptations, LLC, Estimate of Health Care Costs, October 21, 2010
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]