Discharged from Accident and Emergency with CES Symptoms
If Accident and Emergency practitioners fail to examine for or respond to early symptoms of cauda equina syndrome, the patient may suffer a poor outcome. It might be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
Delaying diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome
Someone who seems to be developing the red flag symptoms of cauda equina syndrom- is usually advised to go to Accident and Emergency immediately. Once there, they should be examined and, if red flag symptoms are found, they should undergo an MRI scan within hours.
A patient with incomplete cauda equina syndrome is a medical emergency. If surgery is delayed, it is possible for their condition to deteriorate as their spinal compression worsens.
Depending on the extent of the deterioration, this can mean that the chances of recovery following surgery are reduced and the patient may face a lifetime of distressing and debilitating physical problems.
It is crucial, therefore, that the significance of any red flag symptoms is recognised by medical practitioners and actioned immediately.
Diagnosing cauda equina syndrome
If an individual is sent home from Accident and Emergency when they should have been referred for an emergency MRI scan, with a view to a possible need for surgery, the medical practitioners in question may be regarded as having been negligent.
A patient attending Accident and Emergency with incomplete cauda equina syndrome is likely to be suffering lower back and leg pain. They may also be experiencing tingling or loss of sensation in the one or both legs.
It is important to ascertain whether they are also experiencing any additional symptoms such as an alteration in urinary control and sensation. This may present as having difficulty in starting to urinate or a poor flow or difficulty in emptying the bladder.
The patient may also be losing sensation in the saddle area between the legs and around the anus and buttocks. Such symptoms might also suggest that the root of their problem is compression of the cauda equina nerves and an emergency scan is necessary.
Medical negligence
If an individual with red flag symptoms of cauda equina syndrome fails to receive the appropriate referral, their symptoms may worsen before a diagnosis is finally achieved.
Where this occurs, the relevant medical practitioner may be regarded as having acted negligently.
Speak to a solicitor
If you or a loved one are struggling with the long-term effects of cauda equina syndrome because the significance of your symptoms was not recognised, contact Glynns today.
One of our specialist medical negligence solicitors will be very happy to talk to you about the possibility of making a compensation claim.
Please call us on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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