Non-traumatic acquired tetraplegia: case report.
A patient who gradually developed tetraplegia caused by an intra-medullary tumour is described. Over a period of 13 years the patient and her family coped very well with the handicap. After neurosurgical intervention no neurological recovery was achieved, but her head movements were restored. This made mobility with an electrical chin-steered wheelchair possible. Some of the difference between an acute and a gradually acquired tetraplegia are discussed.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery