Which statement correctly differentiates paraplegia from tetraplegia?

Which statement correctly differentiates paraplegia from tetraplegia?

• A. Paraplegia affects arms only
• B. Legs only are affected in paraplegia
• C. All four limbs are affected in paraplegia
• D. Face and neck are affected

Answer: (B)

When the level of spinal cord injury is below the cervical region, the arms are usually spared while the legs are affected—that's paraplegia. If the injury is in the cervical region, all four limbs are affected, which is tetraplegia. So the statement that legs only are affected in paraplegia is the best differentiation because it reflects that paraplegia involves the lower part of the body with arms generally intact. The other options don’t fit: paraplegia does not involve the arms, it does not affect all four limbs, and face/neck involvement isn’t characteristic of paraplegia.

When the level of spinal cord injury is below the cervical region, the arms are usually spared while the legs are affected—that's paraplegia. If the injury is in the cervical region, all four limbs are affected, which is tetraplegia. So the statement that legs only are affected in paraplegia is the best differentiation because it reflects that paraplegia involves the lower part of the body with arms generally intact. The other options don’t fit: paraplegia does not involve the arms, it does not affect all four limbs, and face/neck involvement isn’t characteristic of paraplegia.