What is pentaplegia?

Answer 1

Pentaplegia describes the condition of paralysis and lack of sensation of the usual four limbs of quadriplegia as well as paralysis of neck and head movement and breathing. Penta: from ancient Greek for five.

The term was suggested by Diane Bell for a paper about five patients with very high spinal cord injury (including respiratory paralysis) high enough that they could not move their heads in space to control various mechanisms nor could they use accessory neck muscles to elevate their shoulders and thus achieve some voluntary breathing.

A high quadriplegia patient with paralysis of both arms and legs can still use their fifth limb", (the head and neck) which they use to control a powered wheel chair, an alarm or call bell and for voluntary breathing so they can be off an artificial respirator for short times.

reference: Traumatic Respiratory Quadriplegia and Pentaplegia. Stauffer ES, Bell GD. Orthop Clin North Am. 1978Oct;9(4): 1081-9

Answer 2

Pentaplegia refers to paralysis of all four limbs plus the trunk of the body. This results in severe impairment of both arms and legs, as well as limited trunk stability and movement. It is a very severe form of paralysis that greatly impacts an individual's ability to move and function independently.