Thankfully, Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) is very rare; however, in cases when it does happen, it should be treated as an emergency. CES has a number of “red flag” symptoms that medics should look out for; if these symptoms go unnoticed the syndrome can lead to paralysis of the lower body. In the worst cases it can significantly impair or even cause the loss of all sensation of the bowel and bladder.
The cauda equina is the nerve bundles that are formed beneath the structure of the nerve roots at the end of the spine. When this collection of nerves becomes compressed, which can happen for a number of reasons, it can have serious interferences with nerve impulses and transmissions.
The cauda equine may become compressed due to a traumatic event that has lead to a fracture or dislocation of the spinal column. It may be caused by a herniated disc which can cause pressure to the nerves, decreasing sensation, and causing inflammation. One of the rarest causes is a spinal tumour; these may develop in the small space around the location of the cauda equina.
If you are suffering from CES it is likely that you will notice a number or signs and symptoms. The main issue that causes complications with medics diagnosing CES is that the symptoms of the syndrome are like many symptoms to a variety of other common illnesses. This often leads to a delay in medics diagnosing the syndrome, which can lead to further and long term suffering for patients. When a person is suffering from the syndrome, medics only have a small time window to successfully diagnose the illness and to get the patient into surgery.
There are a lot of medical negligence claims due to CES, because in a lot of cases, medics have failed to pick out the red flags in diagnosing the syndrome. This, in some cases, can lead to permanent disability for the person suffering from CES.
If you have or know of someone who has been affected by CES, and their suffering prolonged due to medics failing to correctly diagnose the syndrome, then you may be able to make an injury compensation claim. For more information on making a claim, contact the Injury Lawyers for free and friendly advice.
