The nurse is working in the rehabilitative setting caring for tetraplegia and paraplegia clients. When instructing family members on the difference between the sites of impairment, which location should the nurse explain differentiates the two disorders?
The correct answer and explanation is :
The correct answer is the level of spinal cord injury.
Explanation:
Tetraplegia (also known as quadriplegia) and paraplegia are both types of paralysis resulting from spinal cord injuries, but the key difference between them lies in the location of the spinal cord injury.
- Tetraplegia (Quadriplegia):
- This condition is caused by an injury to the spinal cord at the cervical level (neck region).
- The injury can occur at any of the cervical vertebrae, from C1 to C8.
- Tetraplegia results in paralysis of all four limbs (both arms and both legs) and may also involve impairment of the respiratory muscles. The higher the injury on the cervical spine, the more severe the paralysis. For example, an injury at C1-C4 can impair breathing, necessitating mechanical ventilation, while an injury at C5-C8 may still allow some arm movement or function but still result in full or partial loss of hand and leg function.
- Paraplegia:
- This condition occurs when the injury happens at the thoracic, lumbar, or sacral regions of the spinal cord.
- Paraplegia leads to paralysis of the lower body, including both legs, but does not affect the arms. The person with paraplegia will retain full function of the upper body and arms, which allows them to perform tasks requiring upper body strength.
- Depending on the location and severity of the injury, individuals with paraplegia may have limited or no control over their trunk muscles, and bowel, bladder, and sexual function may be affected as well.
In both conditions, the extent of impairment can vary depending on the severity of the injury. However, the critical distinction between tetraplegia and paraplegia is the level of the spinal cord injury, which dictates which parts of the body are affected. Family members need to understand that tetraplegia results from cervical injuries, affecting the arms and legs, while paraplegia results from injuries in the thoracic, lumbar, or sacral regions, affecting only the lower body.