Quadriplegia/Tetraplegia

Scorpion · 08-01-2001, 07:52 PM

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.

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.

~Rus

SCI-Nurse · 08-01-2001, 08:04 PM

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 · 08-01-2001, 08:44 PM

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!

~Rus

Wise Young · 08-02-2001, 04:17 AM

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, www.rutgers.edu, and other places. In fact, 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 · 08-02-2001, 01:43 PM

Leave it to Americans to juxtapose Greek and Latin.

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'.

~Rus

geoand · 08-05-2001, 09:39 AM

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.

08-01-2001, 07:52 PM	#1
Scorpion Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 5,596	Quadriplegia/Tetraplegia 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. 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. ~Rus

08-01-2001, 08:04 PM	#2
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,319	terminology 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

08-02-2001, 04:17 AM	#4
Wise Young Administrator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: New Brunswick, NJ, USA Posts: 37,975	Tetraplegia versus Quadriplegia 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, www.rutgers.edu, and other places. In fact, 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.

08-05-2001, 09:39 AM	#6
geoand Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Scotland Posts: 6	Quadriplegia/Tetraplegia 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.

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08-01-2001, 08:44 PM	#3
Scorpion Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 5,596	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! ~Rus

08-02-2001, 01:43 PM	#5
Scorpion Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 5,596	Leave it to Americans to juxtapose Greek and Latin. 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'. ~Rus