Spinal Emergencies
A 45-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with a 24-hour history of bilateral leg pain, lower back pain, and difficulty passing urine. She noticed numbness in her perineal region when using the toilet. Examination reveals bilateral leg weakness, reduced perianal sensation, reduced anal tone, and a palpable bladder. She has a history of lumbar disc disease. Regarding cauda equina syndrome:
Mark each as TRUE or FALSE
Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is compression of the lumbosacral nerve roots below the conus medullaris...
Clinical features include bilateral leg pain/weakness (often asymmetric), saddle anesthesia (S2-S5 d...
CES affects upper motor neurons; unilateral symptoms are typical; bladder incontinence occurs early ...
Emergency MRI is mandatory to confirm diagnosis and identify the level; post-void residual greater t...
Prognosis depends on severity at presentation and timing of decompression; patients with CES-Retenti...
Answer the questions to see explanations
Click T (True) or F (False) for each option