Spinal Emergencies
A 38-year-old man presents with sudden onset of severe low back pain, bilateral leg pain, difficulty urinating, and numbness around his anus after lifting heavy furniture. He has reduced anal tone on examination and a post-void residual of 300mL. MRI shows a large L4-5 central disc herniation. Regarding cauda equina syndrome:
Mark each as TRUE or FALSE
Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is compression of the cauda equina nerve roots below the conus medullari...
Clinical features include bilateral leg pain and weakness (may be asymmetrical), saddle anesthesia (...
CES occurs above the conus at the thoracic level; unilateral leg symptoms are typical; urinary incon...
CES is classified as incomplete (CES-I, with urinary difficulties but still able to void) or complet...
Urgent surgical decompression (wide laminectomy and discectomy for disc herniation) is the treatment...
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Click T (True) or F (False) for each option