# Treatment of quadriplegia Quadriplegia, or tetraplegia, is a condition for which our specialized unit for demanding hand surgery at Meilahti Bridge Hospital can provide assistance to improve the patient’s quality of life. We treat patients from all over Finland. We can improve the function of the upper limb of a patient with quadriplegia by performing various corrective procedures on the tendons, joints and nerves to improve functional capacity, self-sufficiency, and quality of life. More and more patients can return to an active life with these types of surgical procedures and the subsequent active rehabilitation. The need for 24-hour assistance can be reduced by means of corrective surgery on the upper limbs. ## Evaluation of treatment opportunities for each quadriplegic patient Our goal is to provide each quadriplegic patient in Finland with a situational assessment performed by our hand surgeon who is experienced in hand issues and surgical procedures in this patient category. Surgery requires technically very meticulous planning and implementation. We select the type of surgery individually depending on which functioning muscles the patient still has left in the upper limb and shoulder area. We consider the patient’s individual wishes when planning surgical treatment. Our goal for revision surgeries is usually to try to enable upper limb activities that are important in daily life, such as reaching for or grasping objects. ## Surgery types ### Correction of the extension of the elbow joint Functional extension of the elbow joint allows the upper limb to be placed in different positions and improves the reach of the upper limbs, for example, when reaching up or to support or raise the body in bed. Functional elbow extension also improves the thrust of the upper limb when propelling a wheelchair. If you have enough deltoid muscle strength and good upper limb balance control, we can build good elbow joint extension using, for example, a part of the triceps muscle of the arm. ### Correction of the hand grip Our aim in building a good hand grip is to enable the key pinch between the thumb and index finger and grasping larger objects with the palmar grip. These functionalities can often be built by reorganizing certain functioning muscles or nerves in the forearm. The opening of the fingers is often improved by balancing the tendons or by nerve transplant surgery. The carpometacarpal joint of the thumb is often supported during surgery to ensure a firm grip. ### Reducing spasticity Spasticity is a common problem in patients with quadriplegia. It manifests itself as muscle stiffness in the limbs. In the upper limbs, spasticity can cause, for example, the upper arm becoming pressed against the body and a stiffening of the elbow joint, wrist and fingers in a hook position. This interferes with the use of the hand or sometimes even makes it impossible. We treat spasticity primarily with motion therapy, stretching and medication, and sometimes with a surgical procedure. In surgery, the spastic muscle is either elongated or severed. ## General information about quadriplegia --- **Quadriplegia, or tetraplegia** is caused by spinal cord injury at the cervical level. Most often, this is due to a fracture or dislocation of the cervical spine resulting from a fall, diving or traffic accident, for example. It may also be caused by a disease of the spinal cord such as tumor, inflammation, circulatory disorder, or spinal stenosis. In quadriplegia, the spinal cord injury at the cervical level leads to the impairment or complete lack of many bodily functions. The patient also loses most of the function in their upper limbs. ## Prerequisites for surgical treatment --- We can start planning corrective procedures on the upper limbs when the patient is no longer expected to experience any natural improvement in their hand function. This is usually the case at the earliest one year after the injury. Exceptions include nerve transplant surgery which we aim to perform within a year of the injury. In addition, it is required that - the patient’s upper body is strong enough for transferring to and moving about with a wheelchair using the upper limbs - the joints in the procedure area are not stiff - the patient must not have pressure ulcers - the patient must be adapted to the new life situation and be committed and motivated for long-term and demanding rehabilitation - the patient has a realistic understanding of the aim of the surgery and post-operative rehabilitation. The surgery will not restore normal upper limb function but will improve specific functions that are important in the patient’s daily life. ## Rehabilitation --- After corrective surgery on an upper limb, long-term rehabilitation will begin, and we hope that the patient will commit to the rehabilitation so that we can achieve good long-term results. In practice, this means using protective splints almost continuously for at least four weeks. We will begin strictly instructed exercise therapy immediately after surgery. You will need a lot more assistance in your everyday life during the rehabilitation phase, especially in moving about and transferring between bed and wheelchair, for example. ## [ Rehabilitation Hub (opens in new window, links to another website) ](https://www.terveyskyla.fi/kuntoutumistalo/kuntoutujalle/selk%C3%A4ydinvamma/mik%C3%A4-on-selk%C3%A4ydinvamma) Terveyskylä.fi For more information about quadriplegia, please visit the Health Village Rehabilitation Hub. Health Village (Terveyskylä) is an online service for specialized healthcare (currently only in Finnish). Click here to go to the Rehabilitation Hub’s page on spinal cord injuries  - [ The Finnish Association of Spinal Cord Injured Akson (opens in new window, links to another website) ](https://www.aksonry.fi/) ## Units related to the service ### [ Outpatient Clinic, Meilahti Bridge Hospital ](/en/patient/hospitals-and-other-units/meilahti-bridge-hospital/outpatient-clinic-meilahti-bridge) Meilahti Bridge Hospital Outpatient Clinic admits patients by appointment only. Patients come to us for their first appointment with a referral, or for a…  Updated: 09.01.2026 Print this page