Difference between hemeplegia and hemiparesis?

TriciaJ, RN · Jun 28, 2015

It's a good question and I'm not sure if there is a difference, either. (Hopefully a neuro nurse can give us the lowdown.) I did hear of a quadriplegic person who was actually ambulatory because -plegia is defined according to the spinal cord location of the injury, not necessarily the extent of impairment. But I would like a neuro person to confirm or refute this. Now I'm curious. Hopefully someone can clear this up.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Jun 29, 2015

Hemiplegia = paralysis on one side of the body.

Hemiparesis = weakness on one side of the body.

brillohead, ADN, RN · Jun 29, 2015

Most of my quadriplegic patients have at least *some* movement of their upper limbs but not *complete* movement of their upper limbs.

Because the arms/hands are somewhat affected by the paralysis, they are included in the "quad" category rather than the "para" category.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Jun 29, 2015

Stretching those neurons back to basic A & P, we can remember that the spinal cord is actually a 2 lane highway, with one lane for motor (movement) and another for sensory stimulation. So, depending on the location and type of injury, there are a variety of results... complete transections will cut off both sensory & motor pathways. The motor damage label depends on how many limbs are affected... Para= legs, Quad (sometimes called Tetra)= all 4 limbs, Hemi= one side.... "Plegia" = complete loss of motor function; "paresis"= motor control is severely affected. Loss of sensory function = -'thesia'.

Using the standard taxonomy, If only one (motor) side of the body is affected, it can be "hemiparesis"... which would indicate motor weakness on one side of the body due to stroke or spinal injury or "hemiplegia" indicating paralysis of one side of the body. If motor ability for all 4 limbs was severely affected, it would be called "quadraparesis", paralysis of all 4 limbs = "quadraplegia". Likewise for Para (two limbs) Simple, right?

Not to confuse things, but there is another - pretty grisly - type of spinal injury that has been associated with medical injury. Central cord injury can be caused by injections such as contrast dye or pharmaceutical agents.... this causes damage/paralysis or paresthesia to the arms.

I LUV Neuro.

Stevens33 · Jun 30, 2015

Post should have read, "difference between quadriplegia and quadriparesis".

frenchtoastwaffles, BSN, RN · Jun 30, 2015

This one gets me every time because they're the same ICD9 code and j can never get it more specific at work-

Hemiparesis is weakness

Hemiplegia is paralysis

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Stevens33 · Jun 30, 2015

Post should have read, "difference between quadriplegia and quadriparesis". And my question is how do you draw the distinction between "weakness" and "paralysis", or "severly affected" and "complete loss" as another said. It seems patients are often categorized as "-plegias" even when they retain some motor function..

brillohead, ADN, RN · Jun 30, 2015

It seems patients are often categorized as "-plegias" even when they retain some motor function..

Where do you draw the line for loss of "some" motor function in a limb?

If someone can move their biceps but not their triceps, they have motor function in some muscle groups, but not in others. I wouldn't call that just "weakness" because they actually have paralysis in some muscles.

Likewise, if they can move their arms/forearms but not their wrists/hands/fingers, that is more than just "weakness" -- they have complete paralysis in the distal portion of the upper limbs, while retaining motor function in the proximal upper limbs. While not complete loss of all motor function in the upper limbs, there is, in fact, paralysis present in the upper limbs -- hence the "quad" categorization.

Stevens33 · Jul 19, 2015

I see.. well said. Thanks for that clarification!