What is functional quadriplegia?

Answer 1

Functional quads differ from typical quads this way... Functional Quadriplegia is an ICD code (used for insurance purposes), and it means "immobility of all 4 limbs due to severe disability or frailty." It's used for severe Arthritis, advanced (bedridden) dementia, etc. It is characterized by minimal ability for purposeful movement and usually underlying subsequent problems such as bedsores. The term is used to indicate the level of nursing care required or kind of medical equipment needed. Usually not as a result of spinal injury, it's generally caused by a severe disease process... arthritis and advanced altzeimer's being the most frequent but M.S., M.D., C.P., even severe burns have been known to cause Functional Quadriplegia. Again, it's a diagnoses code used by insurance companies to reimburse nursing homes and hospitals and also to determine eligibility for certain equipment at home such as rehab type wheelchairs and hospital beds. Don't get hung up on the name. It means you have a really hard time moving, not that you're paralyzed or have a broken spinal cord.