Cauda Equina : 3+ yrs (webmd ref)

Cauda Equina and Conus Medullaris Syndromes  

Patients can present with symptoms of isolated cauda equina syndrome, isolated conus medullaris syndrome, or a combination. The symptoms and signs of cauda equina syndrome tend to be mostly lower motor neuron (LMN) in nature, while those of conus medullaris syndrome are a combination of LMN and upper motor neuron (UMN) effects (see Table 1, below). The history of onset, the duration of symptoms, and the presence of other features or symptoms could point to the possible causes.

Table 1. Symptoms and Signs of Conus Medullaris and Cauda Equina Syndromes (Open Table in a new window)

Symptoms of cauda equina syndrome include the following:

Low back pain

Unilateral or bilateral sciatica

Saddle and perineal hypoesthesia or anesthesia

Bowel and bladder disturbances

Lower extremity motor weakness and sensory deficits

Reduced or absent lower extremity reflexes

Low back pain can be divided into local and radicular pain. Local pain is generally a deep, aching pain resulting from soft-tissue and vertebral body irritation. Radicular pain is generally a sharp, stabbing pain resulting from compression of the dorsal nerve roots. Radicular pain projects in dermatomal distributions. Low back pain in cauda equina syndrome may have some characteristic that suggests something different from the far more common lumbar strain. Patients may report severity or a trigger, such as head turning, that seems unusual.

Severe pain is an early finding in 96% of patients with cauda equina syndrome secondary to spinal neoplasm. Later findings include lower extremity weakness due to involvement of the ventral roots. Patients generally develop hypotonia and hyporeflexia. Sensory loss and sphincter dysfunction are also common.

Urinary manifestations of cauda equina syndrome include the following:

Retention

Difficulty initiating micturition

Decreased urethral sensation

Typically, urinary manifestations begin with urinary retention and are later followed by an overflow urinary incontinence.

Bell et al demonstrated that the accuracy of urinary retention, urinary frequency, urinary incontinence, altered urinary sensation, and altered perineal sensation as indications of possible disk prolapse justified urgent MRI assessment.^{[75, 76]}

Bowel disturbances may include the following:

Incontinence

Constipation

Loss of anal tone and sensation

The initial presentation of bladder/bowel dysfunction may be of difficulty starting or stopping a stream of urine. It may be followed by frank incontinence, first of urine then of stool. The urinary incontinence is on the basis of overflow. It is usually with associated saddle (perineal) anesthesia (the examiner can inquire if toilet paper feels different when the patient wipes)