马尾神经综合征发病机制的临床研究

目的：探讨马尾神经综合征临床发病特点，分析其发病机制。方法：分析马尾神经综合征患者的临床表现、实验室检查和影像学检查的变化规律。结果：马尾神经综合征的临床主要表现为鞍区感觉、大小便、性功能的障碍，首发症状为感觉功能的障碍，继而出现括约肌功能及性功能障碍。临床表现出现前BCR(bulbo-cavemosus-reflex)、ICR(is-chio-cavernosus-reflex)等已有明显异常。影像学研究，大部分表现为多节段椎管狭窄。结论：马尾神经综合征的机制是由于骶髓反射弧的广泛损害。马尾神经综合征分前期、早期、中期、晚期。电生理改变和鞍区感觉功能的改变是早期诊断的指标。在前期、早期诊断马尾神经综合征称为早期诊断。     

腰骶神经损害致马尾神经综合征的临床分期及早期诊断

目的: 探讨马尾神经综合征临床发病特点, 分析其分期。方法: 分析马尾神经综合征患者的临床表现、实验室检查和影像学检查的变化规律。结果: 马尾神经综合征的临床主要表现为鞍区感觉、大小便、性功能障碍,首发症状为感觉功能的障碍, 继而出现括约肌功能及性功能的障碍。临床表现出现前BCR (bulbo cavernosus reflex)、ICR (ischio cavernosus reflex) 等已有明显异常。影像学研究认为, 大部分表现为多节段椎管狭窄。结论: 马尾神经综合征分前期、早期、中期、晚期。电生理改变和鞍区感觉的功能改变是早期诊断的指标。在前期、早期诊断马尾神经综合征称为早期诊断。     

重视急性马尾神经综合征的早期诊断与治疗

急性马尾神经综合征(acute cauda equina syndrome,ACES)是一种常见的因下腰椎病变导致马尾神经损害的严重疾病.诸多原因可致急性马尾神经损害,临床表现以鞍区感觉、括约肌功能及性功能障碍为主要特征,通常称为马尾神经综合征.     

显微内镜下治疗腰椎间盘突出症伴马尾神经损伤一例

<正>腰腿痛是腰椎间盘突出症最主要的症状,马尾神经损伤既是LDH症状也是并发症之一,是手术的绝对适应证。马尾神经损伤的典型特征是出现鞍区感觉、括约肌功能、性功能三大障碍~([1-6])。腰椎间盘突出症并发马尾神经综合征(CES)患者,应该尽可能的早期手术,有利于马尾神经的功能恢复和避免损     

马尾综合征研究进展

马尾综合征（cauda equina syndrome,CES）是由于各种外界或内在病因所致马尾神经受压迫引起的腰痛、坐骨神经痛、鞍区感觉障碍及下肢无力、膀胱和肛门括约肌功能障碍及性功能障碍等一系列症候群。该病最早由Mixter和Barr在1934年报道,然而马尾综合征的定义至今仍没有统一,但多数学者认为,膀胱功能障碍是成立诊断的必要条件。     

马尾神经综合征的病因、症状及诊治

马尾神经综合征（cauda equina syndrome, CES）是多种原因引起的以腰骶椎椎管绝对或相对狭窄,致马尾神经压迫产生鞍区感觉、膀胱功能、肛门括约肌功能和性功能障碍等为主要特点的一系列症候群。腰椎椎间盘突出症、腰椎椎管狭窄症是引起该病最常见的原因,其他原因还包括创伤、脊柱肿瘤、淋巴瘤、医源性损伤等。尽管CES发生率较低,可一旦发生将严重影响患者的生活质量,故早期诊断和及时治疗尤为重要。本文旨在对其病因机制、诊断及治疗现状进行简要综述。     

腰椎间盘突出症和马尾神经综合征

本文报告３２例腰椎间盘突出症导致的马尾神经综合征。除腰痛及坐骨神经痛外，本组所有病人均存在鞍区麻木和括约肌功能障碍。根据尿便功能障碍发作程度和持续时间，本组有四种不同的临床表现类型，预后差。异较大。脊髓造影具有诊断和鉴别诊断价值，应用Ｏｍｎｉｐａａｕｅ较Ｃｏｎｒａｙ安全。早期诊断和手术治疗，对括约肌功能、肌力和鞍区浅感觉最大程度地恢复甚为重要。     

神经根损害神经根后根节病理变化的实验研究

目的初步探讨马尾神经损害导致马尾神经综合征,神经根后根节的病理变化.方法取不同时间段的马尾神经综合征的模型的神经根的后根节,作HE染色对其内正常感觉神经元细胞记数.结果临床出现马尾神经综合征1/2d,将导致双侧后根节缺血水肿,节内神经元细胞坏死.结论后根节内的感觉神经元极敏感,极易坏死,是马尾神经损害顺行溃变的重要病理变化之一,是导致鞍区麻木、感觉障碍,难以恢复的重要原因.     

神经根损害神经根后根节病理变化的实验研究

目的：初步探讨马尾神经损害导致马尾神经综合征，神经根后根节的病理变化。方法：取不同时间段的马尾神经综合征的模型的神经根的后根节，作HE染色对其内正常感觉神经元细胞记数。结果：临床出现马尾神经综合征1／2d，将导致双侧后根节缺血水肿，节内神经元细胞坏死。结论：后根节内的感觉神经元极敏感，极易坏死，是马尾神经损害顺行溃变的重要病理变化之一，是导致鞍区麻木、感觉障碍，难以恢复的重要原因。     

腰椎间盘突出症并马尾神经损伤的手术疗效观察

由椎间盘退变所致的腰椎间盘突出症、腰椎管狭窄症、腰椎间盘突出伴椎管狭窄症在临床上多引起腰及下肢的疼痛麻木,感觉及运动障碍,随着病变自行发展或在外因作用下使马尾神经受到严重压迫并损伤后则会出现马尾神经综合征（cauda equine syndrome,CES）的表现,导致不同程度膀胱和肛门括约肌功能障碍,下肢感觉、运动障碍及马鞍区感觉的丧失,部分男性患者会出现性功能障碍。此类患者在临床上并非罕见,如何最大程度地帮助患者改善马尾神经功能是治疗此类疾病的关键。     

Cauda equina syndrome

Cauda equina syndrome is a relatively uncommon condition typically associated with a large, space-occupying lesion within the canal of the lumbosacral spine. The syndrome is characterized by varying patterns of low back pain, sciatica, lower extremity sensorimotor loss, and bowel and bladder dysfunction. The pathophysiology remains unclear but may be related to damage to the nerve roots composing the cauda equina from direct mechanical compression and venous congestion or ischemia. Early diagnosis is often challenging because the initial signs and symptoms frequently are subtle. Classically, the full-blown syndrome includes urinary retention, saddle anesthesia of the perineum, bilateral lower extremity pain, numbness, and weakness. Decreased rectal tone may be a relatively late finding. Early signs and symptoms of a developing postoperative cauda equina syndrome are often attributed to common postoperative findings. Therefore, a high index of suspicion is necessary in the postoperative spine patient with back and/or leg pain refractory to analgesia, especially in the setting of urinary retention. Regardless of the setting, when cauda equina syndrome is diagnosed, the treatment is urgent surgical decompression of the spinal canal.     

Slow onset cauda equina syndrome: a case report

Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is characterized by low back pain, sciatica, lower limb motor weakness and sensory deficits, saddle anaesthesia, bowel and bladder dysfunction and occasionally paraplegia. The syndrome is classified according to onset: rapid or slow. Rapid onset CES, because of its characteristic presentation is easily recognized. The slow, chronic progression and varying presenting signs and symptoms of slow onset CES often mimic mechanical low back pain and makes the diagnosis difficult in its early stages. The case of a 23-year-old female with slow onset cauda equina is presented to illustrate this. A discussion of lumbar spine anatomy as it relates to the clinical presentation of cauda equina syndrome and the influence of associated degenerative factors follows. The most common presenting signs and symptoms are reviewed with special emphasis on those which can help diagnose CES in its early stages. Patients prognosis following surgical decompression is highlighted.     

Clinical classification of cauda equina syndrome for proper treatment

Background and purpose Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is a severe complication of lumbar spinal disorders; it results from compression of the nerve roots of the cauda equina. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of a classification scheme of CES based on factors including clinical symptoms, imaging signs, and electrophysiological findings.

Methods The records of 39 patients with CES were divided into 4 groups based on clinical features as follows. Group 1 (preclinical): low back pain with only bulbocavernosus reflex and ischiocavernosus reflex abnormalities. Group 2 (early): saddle sensory disturbance and bilateral sciatica. Group 3 (middle): saddle sensory disturbance, bowel or bladder dysfunction, motor weakness of the lower extremity, and reduced sexual function. Group 4 (late): absence of saddle sensation and sexual function in addition to uncontrolled bowel function. The outcome including radiographic and electrophysiological findings was compared between groups.

Results The main clinical manifestations of CES included bilateral saddle sensory disturbance, and bowel, bladder, and sexual dysfunction. The clinical symptoms of patients with multiple-segment canal stenosis identified radiographically were more severe than those of patients with single-segment stenosis. BCR and ICR improved in groups 1 and 2 after surgery, but no change was noted for groups 3 and 4.

Interpretation We conclude that bilateral radiculopathy or sciatica are early stages of CES and indicate a high risk of development of advanced CES. Electrophysiological abnormalities and reduced saddle sensation are indices of early diagnosis. Patients at the preclinical and early stages have better functional recovery than patients in later stages after surgical decompression.     

Clinical classification of cauda equina syndrome for proper treatment: A retrospective analysis of 39 patients

Background and purpose

Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is a severe complication of lumbar spinal disorders; it results from compression of the nerve roots of the cauda equina. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of a classification scheme of CES based on factors including clinical symptoms, imaging signs, and electrophysiological findings.

Methods

The records of 39 patients with CES were divided into 4 groups based on clinical features as follows. Group 1 (preclinical): low back pain with only bulbocavernosus reflex and ischiocavernosus reflex abnormalities. Group 2 (early): saddle sensory disturbance and bilateral sciatica. Group 3 (middle): saddle sensory disturbance, bowel or bladder dysfunction, motor weakness of the lower extremity, and reduced sexual function. Group 4 (late): absence of saddle sensation and sexual function in addition to uncontrolled bowel function. The outcome including radiographic and electrophysiological findings was compared between groups.

Results

The main clinical manifestations of CES included bilateral saddle sensory disturbance, and bowel, bladder, and sexual dysfunction. The clinical symptoms of patients with multiple-segment canal stenosis identified radiographically were more severe than those of patients with single-segment stenosis. BCR and ICR improved in groups 1 and 2 after surgery, but no change was noted for groups 3 and 4.

Interpretation

We conclude that bilateral radiculopathy or sciatica are early stages of CES and indicate a high risk of development of advanced CES. Electrophysiological abnormalities and reduced saddle sensation are indices of early diagnosis. Patients at the preclinical and early stages have better functional recovery than patients in later stages after surgical decompression.     

Cauda equina syndrome in patients undergoing manipulation of the lumbar spine.

Cauda equina syndrome has been implicated as a potential complication of spinal manipulation. A review of the literature from 1911 to 1989 revealed ten reported cases of cauda equina syndrome in patients undergoing manipulation without anesthesia. This article presents three new cases where a temporal association was found between the onset of cauda equina symptoms and lumbar manipulation. The type of manipulation administered and the relationship between the treatment and symptoms is reviewed. In each of these cases both the chiropractic practitioner and the emergency room physician failed to comprehend the nature of the problem and take appropriate action. As a consequence, the patients went untreated for several days. This may have led to residual symptomatology. It is concluded that patients who present with bowel or bladder disturbances, leg weakness, or rectal and genital sensory changes after manipulation, be recognized as experiencing a cauda equina syndrome.     

Síndrome de cauda equina después de la anestesia espinal-epidural combinada con levobupivacaína para la cesárea

Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is a rare but possible complication of neuroaxial anesthesia. Damage to the nerve roots may occur due to compression, inflammation, stretching, direct trauma, spinal ischemia or neurotoxicity, usually with lidocaine or bupivacaine. We describe a case of a 33-year-old patient that underwent an uneventful cesarean section with a combined spinal-epidural technique anesthesia, with levobupivacaine. 48 hours after the procedure, she presented diminished muscular strength and abolished osteotendinous reflexes in the left lower limb, limited flexion of the right hallux, urinary retention and saddle anesthesia. Imaging exams excluded hematoma, thickening or compression of the cauda equina nerve roots. CES was suspected and treatment was initiated. 9-month follow up revealed diminished osteotendinous reflexes on the left lower limb and perianal hypoesthesia. Despite being unusual, neurological complications require prompt recognition and management to avoid permanent damage.     

Cauda equina syndrome and profound hearing loss after spinal anesthesia with isobaric bupivacaine

A 33-yr-old man undergoing anorectal surgery developed cauda equina syndrome and bilateral profound hearing loss after single-injection spinal anesthesia with isobaric bupivacaine. There was no pain on needle placement. Neurologic assessment found impaired sensation to pinprick in the perineal region, lower extremity paralysis, and bowel and bladder incontinence. In addition, he developed a bilateral profound hearing loss involving the low frequencies, with the left side more affected than the right side. Although hearing impairment can occur with cerebrospinal fluid leakage, the etiology of cauda equina syndrome is uncertain. The simultaneous occurrence of these events has not been previously reported.     

Review of medicolegal cases for cauda equina syndrome: what factors lead to an adverse outcome for the provider?

Cauda equina syndrome is 1 of a few true surgical emergencies involving the lumbar spine. Although treatment within 48 hours has been found to correlate with improved outcomes, recovery of bowel and bladder control does not always occur, and loss of these functions can be distressing to patients. An understanding of factors affecting the legal outcome can aid the clinician in determining risk management for medicolegal cases of cauda equina syndrome. This study is a retrospective analysis of medicolegal cases involving cauda equina syndrome. The LexisNexis Academic legal search database was used to obtain medicolegal cases of cauda equina syndrome to determine risk factors for adverse decisions for the provider. Outcomes data on trial verdicts were collected, as were associated penalties. Case data were also compiled on age, sex, initial presentation site, initial diagnosis, whether a rectal examination was performed, time to consultation with a specialist, time to completion of advanced imaging study, time to surgery, and neurosurgical vs orthopedic consultation. Based on our study of court cases involving cauda equina syndrome, a positive association was found between time to surgery >48 hours and an adverse decision (P<.05). The actual degree of functional loss did not appear to affect the verdicts. Because 26.7% of the cases involved an initial presentation that included loss of bowel or bladder control, this study emphasizes the importance of cautioning all patients with spinal complaints of the potential risk for cauda equina syndrome.     

The healing potential in cauda equina syndrome secondary to traumatic posterior L5-S1 dislocation. A case report with 16 years follow-up

Cauda equina syndrome is the result of any lesion that compresses or paralyzes cauda equina roots which are both motor and sensory. It is an uncommon syndrome, which features low back pain, sciatica, variable lower extremity motor and sensory loss with possible bladder and bowel dysfunction. It is an emergency situation as it may cause significant morbidity such as permanent paralysis, impaired bladder and/or bowel control or loss of sexual sensation. We present the case of a patient who was admitted to the emergency department with a traumatic posterior L5-S1 dislocation, low back pain and bladder dysfunction 8 days following an initial trauma. Open L5-S1 reduction and posterior stabilization was performed and the dural sac was decompressed. Most of the patient's neurological deficits resolved over several years, following the initial surgery.