Respiratory Distress Risks in Paraplegics and Quadriplegics

Spinal cord injuries can lead to significant health complications both in the short term and in the long term. For individuals who suffer from a spinal cord injury that leads to paralysis, there is a significant risk for developing complications associated with respiratory complications.

Respiratory distress is a common risk for paraplegics as well as quadriplegics. The most common type of respiratory complication involves the development of pneumonia, accounting for nearly 50 percent of all deaths in these at-risk patients. If you, or someone you love, suffers from complications involving a spinal cord injury and paralysis, it is important to monitor and manage respiratory complications effectively so as to prevent these adverse health outcomes.

In the days following a spinal cord injury, no matter how bad the injury may be, there should be an aggressive focus on respiratory health by the healthcare team. Because the muscles that are responsible for inspiration and respiration are affected by the spinal cord injury, the inability to breathe normally often leads to the development of infection in the lungs. Of the many muscle groups affected, the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles are the most important. As a result, a respiratory therapist and physical therapist will need to conduct therapy that focuses on these muscle groups.

Because respiratory complications progressively worsen over the first five days following a spinal cord injury, your team of healthcare professionals will aggressively manage your respiration during this period. If you are going to experience respiratory failure, it will most likely occur by day five. Following this period, regular maintenance therapy is required to strengthen the lungs, intercostal muscles and the diaphragm. When any sign of infection is present, your therapy will be more aggressive.