ABSTRACT
Paraplegia Paraplegia is the complete paralysis of both legs and is caused by spinal cord compression. Spinal cord compression below the level of T1 presents with spastic paraparesis and sensory loss below the level of the lesion but produces normal fi ndings above. There may be other features including upper motor neurone signs as well as faecal and urinary incontinence. Other causes of spastic paraparesis include MS, motor neurone disease (no sensory loss), spinal cord tumours, syringomyelia, B12 defi ciency and syphilis. Flaccid paraparesis, on the other hand, is caused by a cauda equina lesion that is below the level of L1/L2. It can also be differentiated from other types of spinal cord lesions by the presence of lower motor neurone features such as wasting and fasciculation of the involved muscles and absent refl exes. There is also painless urinary retention, constipation and sacral numbness. Other causes of fl accid paraparesis include tabes dorsalis and peripheral neuropathy.
