Recognising The Symptoms of Cauda Equina Syndrome

A reasonably competent healthcare professional should recognise a patient who has developed sinister symptoms indicative of cauda equina syndrome. A failure to do so will amount to substandard medical care. If this causes a patient harm, there will be grounds for a compensation claim.

Red flag symptoms of cauda equina syndrome

Because humans empty their bladder on a regular basis, one of the most obvious symptoms of cauda equina syndrome is difficulty with urination. However, it is by no means the only symptom of cauda equina syndrome.

In fact, doctors generally consider that the condition has a group of symptoms that, when they appear together, indicate caudal nerve compression. These symptoms are regularly referred to as the ‘red flag symptoms’ of cauda equina syndrome because they signal the presence of the condition.

The red flag symptoms of cauda equina syndrome are:

• Reduced sensation in the saddle area
• Urinary dysfunction – with difficulty voiding, numbness and retention
• Persistent back/leg pain
• Lower limb weakness and numbness

What should happen next?

If the patient is displaying the red flag symptoms and has attended their GP, an immediate referral should be made to hospital.

In hospital, the patient should be examined and sent for an urgent MRI scan. From a medical point of view, the symptoms suggestive of cauda equina syndrome demand a referral for an MRI scan. This includes bilateral leg pain, leg numbness, leg weakness, inability to stand, reduced sensation over saddle area and urinary dysfunction. The MRI scan should be performed that day.

The MRI scan will confirm (or rule out) a diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome, as well as the underlying cause. Normally the cause is a large central disc prolapse, although there are many other potential causes such as a spinal tumour and spinal stenosis.

If a patient is diagnosed with cauda equina syndrome decompression should be performed that day, or at the very latest the following morning. If surgery is carried out in the very early stages of an incomplete cauda equina syndrome, the prognosis should be excellent with little or no residual symptoms.

Failure to diagnose cauda equina syndrome

Once a patient reaches complete cauda equina syndrome, the prognosis deteriorates significantly. If this happens because medical practitioners miss opportunities to diagnose the condition, there may be a case of medical negligence. For more information about claiming compensation for a delayed diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome, please get in touch with us today to talk to a solicitor.

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