Quadriplegia Caused by Medical Malpractice

According to statistics, as of 2015, between 240,000 and 337,000 people in the United States are living with spinal cord injuries (SCI). 52% of people with SCI are considered paraplegic and 47% quadriplegic. Roughly 240,000 new cases of SCI occur annually. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, the most common causes of SCI are:

• Motor vehicle accidents - 38%
• Violence - 14%
• Falls - 30%
• Sports-related - 9%
• Surgical- or Medical-related - 5%
• Other - 4%

Also known by the name tetraplegia, quadriplegia is characterized by complete or partial loss of control and sensation in the torso and all four limbs. It is caused by damage to the cervical spine or the brain. A similar condition is paraplegia; the difference being that it also involves paralysis of the arms. Some people who suffer from quadriplegia are able to retain full functioning of the arms. However, typically, loss of nervous control in the fingers and thumb is present.

Quadriplegia Resulting from Medical Error

It is critical to diagnose and treat injuries that affect the spinal cord or associate nerves as soon as possible. In some cases, when injuries are left untreated, it can lead to spreading or swelling that compromises the spinal cord even further. In a hospital or any other medical environment, negligence or carelessness surrounding an SCI can result in quadriplegia. The type of scenario can be classified as medical malpractice. Quadriplegia can be caused directly or indirectly by:

• Failure to diagnose and treat a condition that results in quadriplegia
• Improper or negligent treatment of a curable SCI
• Spinal cord pressure from a blood clot that results from an unrelated procedure
• Lack of oxygen caused by an unrelated procedure

If not diagnosed on time, this condition can cripple a patient for life and also cause other severe health issues.

Quadriplegia Complications

Some complications of quadriplegia include:

• · Osteoporosis
• · Blood clots
• Chronic pain
• Respiratory infections
• Urinary tract infections
• Coronary heart disease
• Urinary and fecal incontinence
• Muscle stiffness, or spasticity
• Pressure sores, or decubitus ulcers
• Sexual dysfunction

Risks Factors of Quadriplegia

There are certain congenital diseases and conditions that can cause quadriplegia:

• Scoliosis
• Transverse myelitis
• Multiple sclerosis
• Poliomyelitis, or polio
• Spina bifida
• Spastic cerebral palsy
• Muscular dystrophy

Poorly treated or untreated conditions that can result in quadriplegia include:

• Spinal cord injury
• Spinal fracture
• Spinal compression
• Spinal tuberculosis
• Bony metastastes
• Vertebral disc prolapse
• Epidural abscess or hemorrhage
• Epidural hematoma of the spine
• Spinal cord or vertebral tumor growth

If you or a loved one suffers from quadriplegia due to medical negligence or carelessness, you should immediately seek the counsel of one of the reputed medical malpractice attorneys at Rosenberg, Minc, Falloff, & Wolff of RMFW Law on 212-344-1000.

We know how to win cases. We can win cases in a variety of ways. We know how to use the law to our advantage. These cares are not easy to win, the challenges are severe but we know how to gather evidence and build a strong case so the other side will want to settle. You pay us nothing. We are only paid when you are paid. The first meeting is free.

Call RMFW Law now!