Cauda equina syndrome: a serious trap for the urological surgeon

Abstract

Cauda equina syndrome, that is the symptoms and signs of cauda equina compression, does not often present to the urological surgeon. However, when it does it may pose a major problem in diagnosis and management, simply because the average urological surgeon may never have seen the condition before. Therefore the likelihood of correct diagnosis may be low and the litigation risk correspondingly high. This paper outlines the anatomy, the disparate presenting symptoms and the necessity for urgent management of this rare problem, which may produce such devastating disabilities.