Wheelchair dependent paraplegics often face various late complications involving the peripheral nervous system and central nervous system, which puts residual upper extremity function at risk. Medical professionals should monitor paraplegics and quadriplegics to ensure they are not at-risk for late complications.
Here are four things to know:
1. Of the paraplegics or quadriplegics in manual wheelchairs, approximately 20 percent to 60 percent have compressive neuropathies in the upper extremities. Compressive neuropathy happens where a nerve experiences a compressive force at some point in the upper limb.
2. Patients with compressive neuropathy exhibit initial symptoms including intermittent numbness and tingling, which then progresses to constant numbness. Patients may also experience motor complains progress such as aching, weakness, debilitating pain and even nerve death and loss of function.
3. If the condition is treated early, patients can avoid long-term complications and functional loss.
4. Nearly 75 percent of wheel chair dependent paraplegics develop carpal tunnel syndrome. Symptoms of carpal tunnel include numbness in the first three fingers of the hand or aching or pain in the hands or forearms.
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