What is cauda equina syndrome and what are the symptoms? Thank you

Paresthesias, fecal dysfunction, motor dysfunction.

1.numbness, weakness or pain in both legs; Walking sticks and bumps, or difficulty getting up from a chair, losing or changing sensation in your legs, buttocks, inner thighs, back of legs, or feet, which is severe or getting worse; You may feel troubled in any part of your body, feeling like you're sitting in the saddle (called saddle anesthesia).

2.Problems with the bladder and bowel that cause unregulated bowel and bowel movements, such as incontinence, urinary retention (retention), urination, and constipation.

3.Sudden or slow onset of sexual dysfunction, etc.

Cauda equina syndrome is still one of the most common causes of cauda equina syndrome in the world, and the most common cause is compression or damage to the nerves in the spinal cord. Usually after the diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome is made, doctors will recommend early treatment** to prevent prolonged nerve compression and damage that can lead to uncontrolled bowel and bowel movements and permanent damage to the lower limbs, such as permanent paraplegia of the lower limbs.

There are several reasons why cauda equina syndrome can appear:

1. Lumbar disc herniation.

Cauda equina syndrome due to lumbar disc herniation is a serious complication that can cause significant physical and mental disability. When the cauda equina is compressed by a large herniated disc or dead bone, acute or nonacute sensory impairment of the lower leg may occur with decreased sensitivity, urodynamics, and dysfunction of the urinary and sphincter muscles.

2. Lumbar spinal stenosis.

Lumbar spinal stenosis is the main causative element of cauda equina syndrome and is the most common form of intermittent claudication. In addition to idiopathic or achondroplasia lumbar spinal stenosis, the most common clinical conditions are acquired and secondary lumbar spinal stenosis, such as ankylosing spondylitis. Cauda equina nerve injury consists of injury to the cauda equina nerve itself and cauda equina compression injury caused by lumbar spinal stenosis, and may have characteristic movement disorders - intermittent neurogenic claudication.

Symptoms due to lumbar spinal stenosis or cauda equina syndrome are considered absolute indications for surgery, and adequate decompression is recommended while maintaining or restoring segmental stability.

3. Lumbosacral vertebra fracture and dislocation.

Cauda equina syndrome can be caused by fracture and dislocation of the lumbosacral vertebrae, manual massage, or post-traumatic lesions.

4. Cauda equina syndrome occurs after lumbosacral spine surgery.

Partial or complete cauda equina syndrome after lumbar spine surgery is a disease that requires urgent treatment, especially when the condition is progressively worsening, emergency imaging examination is required, and if the imaging is clear about lumpy-like lesions, emergency surgical exploration is required. Causes may be related to inadequate decompression, nerve root swelling, hematoma, residual disc fragments, gelatin sponges, intradural masses, or adipose tissue or vascular insufficiency implanted in the spinal canal (poor blood supply to the cauda equina).

5. Cauda equina syndrome caused by spinal epidural hematoma.

Cauda equina syndrome caused by spinal epidural hematoma is associated with trauma, anticoagulation**, vascular abnormalities, and postoperative hematoma. One. Once suspected, appropriate imaging examinations should be performed as soon as possible, and the hematoma should be removed as soon as possible after diagnosis, except for the primary disease, because epidural hematoma can cause significant spinal cord and cauda equina compressive injury.

Prognosis is closely related to the severity of symptoms, the number of segments injured, and the timing of surgery.

We must take the initiative to promote the health knowledge of cauda equina nerve injury, so that a large number of patients can grasp and understand the symptoms and harms caused by cauda equina nerve injury, as early as possible, and actively get rid of the devastation caused by cauda equina nerve injury.

Lumbar disc herniation is the most common**, and other causes include spinal stenosis, cancer, trauma, epidural abscess, and epidural hematoma. The diagnosis is suspected based on symptoms and can be confirmed by medical imaging such as MRI and CT.