UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Cauda Equina

Keywords: back pain, cauda equina (PubMed Search)

Posted: 11/4/2013 by Brian Corwell, MD (Emailed: 11/9/2013) (Updated: 11/9/2013)
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Cauda equina syndrome results from compression of multiple lumbar and sacral nerve roots

Causes: Central disc herniation, spinal epidural abscess, malignancy, trauma, hematoma.

Consider this entity in those with back pain and radiculopathy at multiple spinal levels

Urinary retention occurs in >90% of patients

Saddle anesthesia occurs in 75%

Decreased rectal sphincter tone occurs in 60 to 80%

A post void residual volume <100 mL makes this entity very unlikely