What Is Cauda Equina Syndrome?
The cauda equina is a group of nerves located at the bottom of the spine. They provide sensation and enable movement in the legs, genitals, bladder, bowel and rectum. When they are damaged, this is referred to as cauda equina syndrome.
The cauda equina nerves begin at the base of the spinal cord and branch downwards through the pelvis, buttocks and legs. It is no coincidence that 'cauda equina' means 'horse tail' in Latin, because early scientists believed that is exactly what they resembled.
What is cauda equina nerve damage?
Together the cauda equina nerves allow us to do things such as urinate voluntarily, have sensation and power in the legs, and experience sexual sensation. Should the nerves become damaged, these functions will be reduced or lost altogether.
The potential causes of cauda equina damage are numerous, but all of them involve the nerves becoming compressed. One example is a slipped disc in the lower back which protrudes to such an extent that it presses upon the nerves.
Cauda equina compression that results in neurological dysfunction is called cauda equina syndrome.
What is cauda equina syndrome?
Cauda equina syndrome is a medical emergency. The treatment needed is decompression surgery, which aims to remove whatever is pushing upon the nerves.
Sometimes this is not applicable because compression is happening due to other health issues, such as a spinal tumour. Most patients, however, will require decompression surgery. If a medical team do not immediately notice that you are suffering from decompression and do not treat it quickly enough, this can lead to a successful medical negligence claim.
Long-term cauda equina injuries
Without emergency decompression surgery, the cauda equina nerves will become severely injured. The cells will die, after which they cannot regenerate and the nerves can never be repaired. The patient's neurological dysfunction will therefore be permanent.
Long-term cauda equina injuries are not fatal, but they are life-changing. The patient may face serious disability, with problems such as urinary incontinence, faecal incontinence, sexual dysfunction, difficulty walking and chronic pain.
Cauda equina medical negligence claims
If a patient suffers a poor outcome after cauda equina syndrome, it may be that medical practitioners did not diagnose and treat the condition quickly enough.
Cauda equina syndrome is not a common condition, but it does have a high medico-legal profile because medical mistakes can have such drastic consequences on the individual. Failure to spot the common red flags which highlight a possible cauda equina injury is one of the reasons for a successful medical negligence claim.
Cauda equina claim solicitor
If you think mistakes were made during the diagnosis and treatment of your cauda equina syndrome, please get in touch with our team today. Glynns solicitors are cauda equina claim specialists and can help you pursue a claim for medical negligence. All our initial enquiries are free of charge and free of obligation. We are here to help and advise you about the causes of your cauda equina syndrome, so please do get in touch with us today.
Call us now for a free, no obligation assessment on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01761 490883) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
Read more about Cauda Equina Syndrome NHS.
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