Missed Diagnosis of Cauda Equina Syndrome

If medical professionals failed to diagnose your cauda equina syndrome, causing you additional injury, you could be entitled to claim compensation for the physical, emotional and financial impact this has had on your life. Contact us at the Cauda Equina Solicitors to find out more.

Missed cauda equina syndrome

Cauda equina syndrome is a rare condition, but nonetheless, it is one that medical professionals should have a thorough understanding of. At the very least, a doctor should be able to recognise the red flag symptoms of cauda equina syndrome and appreciate the need for further tests. A doctor should also know that these tests must be carried out urgently, as spinal nerve compression must be treated quickly if a patient is to make a full recovery.

However, when it comes to diagnosing and treating cauda equina syndrome, medical professionals do not always provide a reasonable standard of care. Often this is because doctors simply do not consider the possibility of spinal nerve compression, either because they are not familiar with the condition, or because they overlook it as a potential diagnosis. Consequently a patient will be mistakenly diagnosed with a different condition and the nerves will continue to remain under pressure.

Consequences of missed cauda equina syndrome

Undiagnosed cauda equina syndrome can be very dangerous because the nerves are very sensitive. It does not take long for them to suffer harm, and this injury will become increasingly extensive within a matter of hours. If the condition is acute, it can take just 48 hours for the nerves to sustain irreparable damage. When this happens, treatment will prove largely ineffective and a patient will be left with permanent neurological complications. These will vary from person to person, but usually include:-

• Urinary incontinence and the need for a catheter;
• Episodes of faecal incontinence;
• Sexual dysfunction;
• Numbness in the perineal/genital region;
• Chronic back and leg pain;
• Partial or total paralysis of the limbs.

Claiming for a missed diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome

If you have suffered any of the above complications because doctors failed to diagnose your cauda equina syndrome, you need to talk to solicitor about your options. If it is found that a diagnosis should have been made at an earlier stage, and this would have prevented you from developing neurological problems, you could be entitled to claim compensation. This would help to recompense for the pain and suffering you have been caused, and will recover the money you have lost because of your injuries. Contact us at the Cauda Equina Solicitors to find out more.

Please call us free on 0800 234 3300, from a mobile click to call 01275 334030 or complete our Free Online Enquiry for a no cost, no obligation opinion.

Share Article With: