CAUDA EQUINA SYNDROME SECONDARY TO LUMBAR DISC HERNIATION. CASE REPORT AND LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Cauda equina syndrome (CAS) is a set of signs and symptoms that result from the compression of the nerve roots distal to L2. The medical literature mentions some causes, but the extruded disc herniation occupies the first place.
Cauda equina syndrome is a surgical emergency; most authors recommend decompression before 48 hours of evolution, which significantly improves its prognosis.

CASE PRESENTATION: This is a clinical case report and literature review, level IV evidence.
We present the case of a patient with SCE secondary to extruded lumbar disc herniation confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance, who underwent discectomy plus early decompression of the spinal canal using the open technique described by Senegas.
The Daniel scale for neuromotor assessment, Oswestry, and the visual analog scale were used for clinical follow-up.
(VAS) for low back pain.

DISCUSSION: Early surgical decompression of the cauda equina using this technique obtained a satisfactory clinical recovery evidenced in the immediate postoperative period and the follow-up at 3 and 6 months; 100% motor recovery and satisfactory urological evolution were verified, achieving adequate control of the bladder sphincter.

CONCLUSIONS: early decompression prevents an incomplete lesion from progressing to complete paralysis of the sphincters, which improves the postoperative clinical prognosis.