Ryan Findlay | February 20, 2025 | Long-Term Disability
What’s The Difference Between Tetraplegia And Quadriplegia?
Some of the most catastrophic injuries you can suffer are spinal cord and brain injuries. These can result in a variety of health consequences, including paralysis. The loss of motion you can experience, along with its severity, depends on where along the spine the wound occurred.
One type of paralysis you can suffer is quadriplegia, sometimes also called tetraplegia. Learn more about what it can mean for your mobility and what your legal options may be.
Tetraplegia Or Quadriplegia?
When people hear of tetraplegia or quadriplegia, they assume they’re two separate conditions. In fact, they’re two names for the same type of paralysis. Both mean “paralysis in four limbs,” with the only difference occurring in the use of “tetra,” which means four in Greek, and “Quadri,” which means four in Latin.
Most scientists stick to tetraplegia because the entire word is in Greek. On the other hand, quadriplegia is a mixture of both Latin and Greek.
Understanding Tetraplegia/Quadriplegia
Tetraplegia is a pattern of paralysis that results in the loss of movement and function in all four limbs. It typically only affects the torso, arms, and legs, though some people may experience paralysis in their neck, shoulders, and head, too. Tetraplegia isn’t a condition itself but a symptom of a spinal cord or traumatic brain injury.
You can experience complete tetraplegia, which means that you can’t feel any sensations below the site of the injury, and your brain can’t manage any automatic processes like bowel and bladder control. Incomplete tetraplegia allows some sensation and sometimes even movement in the affected limbs. Automatic processes are also maintained.
Damage to your brain, spinal cord, or both can cause tetraplegia. Your brain and spinal cord pass signals to your muscles throughout your body to prompt movement, so if the signals get interrupted as a result of an injury, movement is no longer possible.
Typically, complete tetraplegia occurs when the injury impacts the highest part of the spine, called the cervical region. The further down the spine the wound happens, the more movement you’re likely to retain.
Common Causes of Tetraplegia
Although illnesses can cause tetraplegia, this type of paralysis often occurs after significant trauma to the spine or brain. Traffic accidents are one of the most common causes. Being thrown from a motorcycle or bicycle, crashing through your windshield, or being struck against the inside of your car in a rollover accident can lead to this type of permanent paralysis.
Traffic accidents involving significant speeds or large vehicles like commercial trucks are most likely to result in catastrophic losses such as spinal cord trauma.
Falls are another potential cause of tetraplegia. Most people assume that you can only suffer a serious injury like tetraplegia if you fall from heights, but any fall that causes trauma to the spine or head can result in paralysis.
Being struck by heavy machinery or other objects could also mean the possibility of developing tetraplegia. Everything from rough sports to workplace accidents could mean losing function to your limbs.
A Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help if You’re Dealing With Tetraplegia or Quadriplegia
If you’ve been in an accident that led to tetraplegia, you may be able to file a claim and receive compensation. It’s important to hire a lawyer for this process, however, because of the complexities such a claim will involve. You have a lot at stake, so trying to go through the claim alone is never a good idea. Instead, hire experienced lawyers in the Hamilton area.
Contact Our Long-Term Disability Law Firm in Ontario, Canada
If you need legal help with a long-term disability case, contact the team at Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation today.
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