Cauda equina syndrome
| Classification according to ICD-10 | |
|---|---|
| G83.4 | Cauda (equina) syndrome |
| S34.3 | Injury to the cauda equina |
| ICD-10 online (WHO version 2019) | |
The cauda equina syndrome (cauda equina compression syndrome) is a combination of several neurological failure disorders that are based on massive bruising of the cauda equina .
Symptoms of cauda equina syndrome can include:
- Back pain that radiates to one or both lower legs above the knee (called radicular pain)
- Breeches anesthesia (sensitive disorders in the buttocks and thighs)
- Missing patellar tendon reflex (L4) and / or missing Achilles tendon reflex (S1)
- Motor failures in the leg and especially in the foot area (e.g. weak foot dorsiflexion)
- Sudden impotence that came with the symptoms
- Urinary and fecal incontinence due to damage to the pudendal nerve (S2-S4)
- reduced sphincter tone on rectal examination
A cauda equina syndrome mainly occurs in severe herniated discs , in the context of metastases in the area of the lower spine, or occurs after operations such as stiffening when the nerves have been / are squeezed for a long time. In the first case, it requires immediate neurosurgical intervention to decompress the nerves again as quickly as possible. If this does not succeed within the first six hours after the onset of the symptoms, it must be expected that the nerves will be permanently damaged and the patient will therefore suffer from symptoms of the cauda equina syndrome.
See also
literature
- K. Masuhr, M. Neumann: Dual Series - Neurology . Thieme Verlag 2007, 6th edition. ISBN 978-3-13-135946-9 - Chapter 2: "The neurological examination"
