Paraplegia

PARAPLEGIA

PARALYSIS OF BOTH THE LOWER LIMB WITHOUT ANY INVOLVEMENT OF THE UPPER LIMB IS CALLED AS PARAPLEGIA.

CAUSES :

UPPER MOTOR NEURON LESION

• TUMORS OF FALX CEREBRI
• THROMBOSIS OF SUPERIOR SAGITTAL SINUS
• THROMBOSIS OF UNPAIRED ANTERIOR CEREBRAL ARTERY AFFECTING BOTH LEG AREA
• SUBACUTE COMBINED DEGENERATION OF CORD
• MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
• ACUTE TRANSVERSE MYELITIS
• MOTOR NEURON DISEASE
• EPIDURAL ABSCESS
• RADIATION MYELOPATHY
• TRAUMA
• POTT'S PARAPLEGIA

LOWER MOTOR NEURON LESION

• ANTERIOR HORN CELL LESION IN CONDITIONS LIKE POLIOMYELITIS, SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY AND MOTOR NEURON DISEASE
• ROOTS LESION LIKE IN CAUDA EQUINA SYNDROME
• MYASTHENIA GRAVIS
• PERIPHERAL NERVE LESION
• SPINA BIFIDA

 CLINICAL FEATURE:
ABSENCE OF REFLEXES
FLACCIDITY
TIGHTNESS CONTRACTURE
OSTEOPOROSIS
URINARY COMPLICATION
DEPRESSION

TREATMENT:

1. MAINTAINING PASSIVE AND ACTIVE RANGE OF MOTION
2. CARE OF SKIN 
3. CARE OF BLADDER
4. ACTIVE EXERCISES
5. MANAGEMENT OF SPASTICITY
6. TRANSFER ACTIVITIES
7. GAIT TRAINING