Quadriplegia

Quadriplegia, also known as tetraplegia, is a form of paralysis that affects sensation and movement in both legs and both arms, as well as most or all of the torso. Many accidents common in the maritime industry can lead to spinal injuries that cause quadriplegia. Let a maritime lawyer advocate for you and prove that you deserve to get money to cover your many new costs.

What Is Quadriplegia?

Paralysis refers to loss of control over muscles and sensation in either one muscle or, more commonly, in groups of muscles.

Paralysis can be categorized by whether or not it is complete, with absolutely no movement or sensation, or incomplete, with some control and sensation.

It is also categorized by the part of the body or muscle groups affected. Quadriplegia refers to paralysis in all of the limbs, arms, and legs, as well as in most of the body’s trunk. Paraplegia affects the lower body and sometimes the trunk but not the arms.

How much of the trunk is paralyzed depends on where in the spinal cord an injury caused damage. The higher up the spine the damage is, the more extensive the paralysis:

• Injury between the C1 and C3 vertebrae causes paralysis of all four limbs and the trunk, with only potentially some movement in the neck.
• Spinal injuries in C4 through C8 cause varying degrees of paralysis, but all four limbs are still impacted. With these lower injuries, a person will have more function, such as the ability to breathe without a ventilator or even some movement in the hands.

What Causes Quadriplegia?

Quadriplegia and other types of paralysis are most often caused by damage to the spinal cord. The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves running from the brain down the spine.

The vertebrae protect the spinal cord, but the spinal cord can also be damaged when a physical trauma injures the back and spine.

The spinal cord sends messages from the brain to organs and limbs, and those parts of the body send messages back to the brain through the spinal cord. When the nerves are damaged, the result is loss of control in organs and muscles and loss of sensation.

The physical trauma to the spine that causes paralysis can be caused by various accidents:

• The most common cause is vehicle accidents.
• Falls are the next most common cause of quadriplegia,
• The third most common cause of paralysis is physical violence and assault.
• Finally, sports and recreational activities, like trampoline accidents, can cause spinal injuries and paralysis.

Accidents that cause paralysis may also happen in the workplace, especially those with large equipment and fall hazards.

How Quadriplegia Is Treated

Emergency medical treatment is required after a person suffers a back or spinal cord injury. It isn’t possible to reverse the damage done to the spinal cord, but appropriate and quick medical care can prevent further damage.

Emergency Quadriplegia Treatment

Immediate treatment for a spinal injury that may cause quadriplegia includes:

• Stabilizing the neck, back, and head
• Ensuring the patient can breathe
• Preventing shock
• Preventing a dangerous drop in blood pressure

After emergency care, a spinal cord injury victim may need surgery to repair damaged bone or cartilage in the spine. Once this is done and the person is stabilized, the level of paralysis can be evaluated.

Long-Term Quadriplegia Treatment

For someone with quadriplegia, the long-term treatment usually revolves around helping that person learn to live with this significant disability. This means working with a physical and occupational therapist to help the patient learn to do some things independently.

Still, with this degree of paralysis, a patient will need care indefinitely and will never be fully independent again.

Treatment also focuses on the complications caused by quadriplegia, which may include:

• Bladder and bowel incontinence
• Blood clots
• Pressure sores
• Respiratory disability
• Muscle spasms
• Pain

Another common complication is depression. Living unable to move much of the body or be independent can trigger serious mental health issues that need to be treated.

Quadriplegia in the Maritime Industry

Physical trauma to the body is the number one cause of quadriplegia, and in the maritime industry, accidents that could cause this kind of paralysis are not uncommon.

Working in this industry is inherently dangerous, whether on a vessel at sea, in a port, or offshore platform.

Falls, for instance, are a leading cause of quadriplegia, and falls happen all too often in maritime work. Workers may fall overboard onto another part of the ship, a dock, or a cargo hold. Workers may also be struck by moving cargo and equipment on a ship or port, such as cranes or vehicles.

Even falls into the water can cause paralysis from a spinal injury. Such was the case when a man in Australia fell from a boat into shallow water. He broke his C5 vertebra and was paralyzed from the neck down.

Because of this fall, he will have to live the rest of his life with quadriplegia. Anyone in a maritime setting is vulnerable to these accidents, including seamen, offshore workers, longshoremen, crew members on fishing vessels and tourist boats, and guests.

Compensation After a Quadriplegia Diagnosis

If you were injured in the maritime industry and have been told that you are now paralyzed in all limbs, you have to face life without independence and the ability to move or control your body.

With quadriplegia, you will not be able to return to work or earn an income. You face countless costs, including medical expenses, therapy, home health care, and assistive devices.

You may be entitled to compensation to help you with these costs. If you are a seaman, for instance, and you qualify for the Jones Act, if you or your lawyer can prove that your employer was negligent in your accident, you can fight for compensation.

Accidents in this industry often involve negligence. For instance, if you were hurt when your ship ran violently aground and caused you to fall, it may be that your ship’s navigation equipment was not kept up to date by your employer.

Being struck by unsecured cargo could be negligent if your employer failed to train workers to secure it properly. Falls caused by inadequate safety railings and other equipment could also be considered negligent.

Other maritime laws can help you get compensation if you work as a longshoreman or offshore worker. You need a lawyer with maritime law experience to help you understand your rights and which laws apply to your situation and to help advocate for you in settlements or in a courtroom if necessary.

If you face the devastating consequences of an accident and quadriplegia, contact a lawyer to help you navigate this new world.