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Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) Secondary to Lumbar Disc Herniation: Retrospective Clinical Study in 13 Cases with in Progression Symptoms

Introduction A compression of nerve roots of cauda equina (CE) is responsible for cauda equina syndrome (CES). The nine pairs of CE nerve roots provide motor and sensory innervation to the lower extremity muscles, the pelvic floor, and the bowel and bladder sphincters. CES caused by a massive herniated lumbar disc, has rarely been described in literature. We report 13 cases of massive lumbar disc herniation causing CES which underwent surgical intervention after 48 hours or more from the trauma. Material and Methods Between September 2010 and June 2014, 13 cases of CES by lumbar disc herniation were treated in our department. In eight patients the herniated disc level was L4–L5, in one patient was L3–L4, and in four cases was L5–S1. The patients admitted to our hospital had lumbosciatic pain and worsening progressive: motor weakness (seven cases), hypoesthesia to lower limbs (nine cases), sexual dysfunction (two cases), hypo/areflexia (five cases). All the patients before surgery referred sphincter disorders (SD). The surgery was performed in a range from 48 hours to 8 days by the onset of symptomatology. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbosacral region was performed in all cases before surgery; other postsurgical studies include electromyography (EMG), urodynamic study, RigiScan, and GSA. Results The MRI examinations showed a herniated lumbar disc determining a compression on CE. Of 13 patients, 11 had a complete recovery of sphincter disturbances and 8 had a recovery of neurological symptoms in the first day after surgery. Eight patients were discharged in the 3rd day after surgery and had a complete clinical recovery after 1 month from surgery. Conclusion CES is characterized by the following symptoms: low back pain, saddle anesthesia, hypo/areflexia, motor weakness or sensory disturbances to lower limbs, sphincter disorders, and sexual disorders. We classified CES according to the onset of symptoms in an acute (symptoms occur within 24 hours) and an in progression form (more than 24 hours). According to the clinical features CES can be classified in a complete (sphincter disorders plus at least four other criteria) and an incomplete form (sphincter disorders and three or less symptoms). Our study is aimed to elaborate a score to better define the preoperative symptomatology and give a prognostic evaluation about neurological recovery. In our experience, despite the fact that surgery has been performed at least 48 hours after the symptoms occurred, we had a complete neurological recovery in 10 out of 13 cases. In case of in progression CES, the surgical intervention, even if it is not performed within 12 hours, can allow a complete neurological recovery, depending on the severity of the clinical features at the time of surgery.