Individuals aged 60 years at the time of injury have a life expectancy of approximately 7.7 years (patients with high tetraplegia), 9.9 years (patients with low tetraplegia), and 12.8 years (patients with paraplegia).

Do paraplegics die early?

From the total study cohort of 2014 patients, 88 persons with tetraplegia (8.2%) and 38 persons with paraplegia (4.1%) died within the first 12 months after injury, with the highest death rates occurring in those with complete lesions, particularly in the high tetraplegia (C1–4) subgroup.

Do paraplegics have a shorter lifespan?

Life expectancy has not improved during the past 30 years. The most common systemic complications following spinal cord injuries are pneumonia and other pulmonary problems. Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death.

Can you recover from being a quadriplegic?

As long as the injury is incomplete (the spinal cord is not severed all the way through), recovery to some degree is possible. SCI patients with less severe quadriplegia may be able to move their arms and hands with weakness, while those with more severe quadriplegia may not be able to move their arms at all.