Neurosurgery for Cauda Equina Syndrome

Updated: Oct 10, 2023
  • Author: Nazer H Qureshi, MD; Chief Editor: Brian H Kopell, MD  more...
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Overview

Background

The term cauda equina (CE) syndrome (CES) refers to a characteristic pattern of neuromuscular and urogenital symptoms resulting from the simultaneous compression of multiple lumbosacral nerve roots below the level of the conus medullaris. [1]  Specific definitions of this syndrome have been heterogeneous. [2]

In the United States, approximately 1-3% of patients who undergo spinal surgery for CES have either atraumatic or traumatic types of CES. [3] CES has no predilection for any race or either sex. Although CES can occur at any age, it is most often seen in adults in whom the spinal canal may already be compromised and stenosed.

The prognosis for CES improves if a definitive cause (eg, lumbar disk herniation [4] ) is identified and management is instituted early. [5] Surgical treatment may be necessary for decompression or tumor removal, especially if the patient presents with acute onset of symptoms. Surgical decompression should be performed if the patient is medically stable and able to undergo the procedure. [6, 7, 8, 9] Surgery has been demonstrated to be safe in pregnant patients; however, obstetric support is advisable in case complications occur to the fetus. [10]

In acute compression of the conus medullaris or CE, surgical decompression as soon as possible becomes mandatory. In a more chronic presentation with less severe symptoms, decompression could be performed when medically feasible and should be delayed to optimize the patient's medical condition; with this precaution, decompression is less likely to lead to irreversible neurologic damage.

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Technical Considerations

Anatomy

Images depicting CES can be seen below.

Sagittal MRI of patient with cauda equina syndrome Sagittal MRI of patient with cauda equina syndrome secondary to large lumbar disk herniation.
Relevant anatomy of cauda equina region. Relevant anatomy of cauda equina region.
Example of cauda equina syndrome secondary to spin Example of cauda equina syndrome secondary to spinal neoplasm.

Go to Cauda Equina and Conus Medullaris Syndromes and Tumors of the Conus and Cauda Equina for complete information on these topics.

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Outcomes

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 22 studies by Kumar et al evaluated long-term outcomes in 852 patients with CES from lumbar disk herniation who underwent surgical decompression (492 males, 360 females; mean age, 44.6 ± 5.5 y). [4] On follow-up (mean, 39.2 mo; minimum, 12 mo), persistent bladder dysfunction was oberved in 43.3%, persistent bowel dysfunction in 31.1%, sensory deficit in 53.3%, motor weakness in 38.4%, and sexual dysfunction in 40.1%. Decompression within 48 hours of symptom onset of symptoms was associated with a better outcome with regard to bladder function than later decompression (24.6% rate of persistent dysfunction vs 50.3%).

In a study of long-term core outcomes in 61 patients who underwent surgical decompression for acute CES secondary to massive lumbar disk prolapse (mean age at presentation, 43 y; mean follow-up, 58.2 mo), Barker et al reported bladder dysfunction in 33% of patients (with 10% requiring a urinary catheter), bowel dysfunction in 38%, sexual dysfunction in 53% (with 47% reporting genital numbness), and significant back pain in 67% (with 44% requiring further investigation and 10% further intervention for management of lower back pain). [11]  Half of the patients reported moderate or worse depression, and 40% of working-age patients were no longer able to work because of CES.

In a retrospective database analysis aimed at examining the associations between race, healthcare insurance, mortality, postoperative visits, and reoperation within a hospital setting in patients undergoing surgical treatment of CES, Corso et al found that whereas outcomes varied by race and insurance type, the latter was more strongly associated with outcomes than the former. [12]  Patients who had Medicaid rather than commercial insurance were more likely to have complication-related and emergency department (ED) visits and were at significantly higher risk for mortality.

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