Prognosis

Even with extensive and regular surgery, there is no way to reverse the effects of quadriplegia, as the spinal cord cannot be repaired. Immediate surgery will be required to provide support and stabilize the vertebrae and bones in the spine. If the bones or discs are creating pressure on the spinal cord, surgery will be necessary to relieve that pressure. In many cases, surgery will at least be required to either remove fragments or realign the bones.

As time passes, with regular rehabilitation and additional surgeries, there can be advancement with the condition of the patient. By using metal rods, screws, and bones, muscle, and tissue from other parts of the body, physicians can at least improve partial movement for victims of more operable quadriplegia. Additionally, after at least one year, the process of functional electrical stimulation can be employed to provide partial movement to the immobilized muscles.


Rehabilitation will last years, if not the rest of a victim’s life. Because there is no known recovery from quadriplegia, there are so many different, important aspects of living that the victim and family will have to learn in order to maintain as simple a daily routine as possible.

Generally speaking, the physical life of a quadriplegic does not increasingly improve.  Through years of  intense therapy, (both physical and mental) a quadriplegic surviving a spinal cord injury can live a most prosperous life through the hope of living every day to its fullest and maximizing their individual potential and bravery.