Cauda Equina Syndrome with Acute Lumbar Burst Fracture

Abstract

In the United States, there are approximately 10,000 new cases of spinal cord injury (SCI) every year. 1 The incidence of neurologic injury depends on the level of fracture in the spine (1%-6% in the lumbar region). 1 Fractures involving the cervical, thoracic, and upper lumbar (L1) spine may damage the spinal cord.Injuries in the thoracolumbar region may damage nerve roots as well as the cord above the conus level. In such instances, patients may present with a mixed pattern of upper and lower motor neuron injuries. Injuries below L2 may damage only the nerve roots. Cauda equina syndrome can result from compression, stretching of the nerves (axonotmesis), or frank nerve root avulsion or tear (neurotmesis). 1,2 Compression at the level of cauda equina has been reported secondary to several factors such as fracture fragments, disc frag-