Cauda equina syndrome and lumbar disc herniation.

Diagnosis and conservative management of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis

“…With extreme stenosis, interference with bladder and bowel control can occur, as was reported by Kostuik et al [32] in their patients. Unlike the acute and often devastating bladder and bowel symptoms of cauda equina syndrome in lumbar disk herniation, spinal stenosis often has an insidious and subtle presentation.…”

Predictors of outcome in cauda equina syndrome

“…Bohlman [4], in a paper on post-traumatic cauda equina, demonstrated significant recovery 30 years following the initial injury with late decompression. Kostuick et al [16] have also demonstrated excellent return of motor function with decompression up to 3 days following presentation. Delamater et al [9] confirmed these findings with canine experimental cauda equina syndrome.…”

“…Several causes of cauda equina syndrome have been reported in the literature, including traumatic injury [3,5,12,17,22], central disc protrusion [16,27,30], chiropractic manipulation [28] and metastatic invasion [11,18].…”

“…Many authors, however, have found that early decompression is not an indicator of a more favourable outcome [9,14,16,21].…”

Evaluating and Managing Acute Low Back Pain in the Primary Care Setting

“…43 Although rare, severe neurologic compromise from the cauda equina syndrome is a true surgical emergency. 28,44 It is due to any large space-occupying lesion centrally located in the spinal canal. It is suggested by severe or progressive nerve root injury.…”