Quadriplegia/Tetraplegia

[Scorpion]

OK, is it just me, or are more people using the term 'tetraplegia' instead of 'quadriplegia'? I know it's used in Europe, but this is America, dammit! We can keep our own words, thank you. http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

Seriously, though, is there some movement afoot in the medical community to change it to go along with the E.U. or something? I'm a quad, not a tetra--that's a fish. http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

~Rus

[SCI-Nurse]

Scorpion - Yes, there has been a movement in the recent years to change to the use of the word "tetraplegia". I do not know the history; we may get a response from Wise or KLD who may know this. I am with you, why do we have to switch when quadriplegia seems to describe what it needs to. CRF

[Scorpion]

Yeah, it's not like Europeans don't understand what quadriplegia means and vice-versa. Who knows? When I was a kid we were told we had to learn the metric system because the United States was going to change over, but 20 years+ later we have barely changed beyond using liters on soda bottles. At least the ,etric system makes more sense than the American system, but Tetraplegia isn't an improvement--it's more like a lateral politically-correct move. Screw PC! http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

~Rus

[Wise Young]

I am afraid that I was part of the group that suggested the use of the word tetraplegia. Tetraplegia has long been used in England and Europe where they are much more knowledgeable and sensitive to Greek and Latin roots of words than Americans. The words tetra and quadri come from the Greek and Latin words meaning "four". The word plegia come from the Greek word meaning a "blow". Thus, when you use the word quadriplegia, you are mixing Greek and Latin words.

I will write more about this later... I am just realizing that there is something going on with many Internet sites. This started at 7 AM. Our carecure.rutgers.edu server just went down. Maybe there is a Code Red attack that is taking place... Many of the major sites on internet appear to be off-line. I am getting a "no such device or address" with sites such as www.amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com), www.rutgers.edu (http://www.rutgers.edu), and other places. In fact, www.whitehouse.gov (http://www.whitehouse.gov) is down.

By the way, this site (Infopop) seems to be surviving the attack. Likewise, I can get onto Google. This may be because this site is hosted on Exodus with military-grade security. I am glad that we chose to host the boards on this site.

Wise.

[Scorpion]

Leave it to Americans to juxtapose Greek and Latin. http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif we're always bastardizing some kind of language.

I knew the prefixes, but didn't really know the suffix meant 'a blow'. Learn somethin' new every day.

I still say I'm stickin' with 'quad'. http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

~Rus

[geoand]

This Forum isn't just used in the US - I'm in the UK and am without doubt a 'Quadriplegic' NOT a Tetra! (C4 complete) Stick with Quad, more people will relate to that, especially if you've got zilch movement in all 4 limbs.