Paraparesis

Paraparesis (paraplegia) refers to partial (-paresis) or complete (-plegia) loss of voluntary motor function in the pelvic limbs. Similar involvement of all four limbs is termed tetraparesis (tetraplegia). Paraparesis generally results from spinal cord lesions caudad to the second thoracic spinal cord segment, whereas tetraparesis occurs because of lesions cranial to this segment.

The limbs may be affected equally; however, asymmetric lesions cause greater clinical involvement on the ipsilateral side. Strictly unilateral lesions at C1-T2 result in clinical involvement on only the affected side of the body (hemiparesis, hemiplegia). Monoparesis (monoplegia) occurs subsequent to unilateral T2-S1 lesions ¹⁾