What are paraplegia and quadriplegia?
Paraplegia is the loss of sensation and movement in the legs and in parts or in all of the trunk usually resulting from an injury to the spinal cord below the neck. Quadriplegia (also called tetraplegia) is the paralysis of all four limbs (from the neck down) resulting from an injury to the neck. Fractures or compression of the vertebrae, which cause permanent damage to the spinal cord, may lead to a loss of sensation and/or movement, pain management, a loss of bladder and bowel control, as well as they may affect sexual function.