HSE National Clinical Guideline
HSE National Clinical Guideline for Cauda Equina Syndrome
Topic:
Cauda equina syndrome
Document Owner:
National clinical director integrated care office of the chief clinical officer
National Group:
National clinical programme for trauma and orthopaedic surgery
Effective From: 01 June 2024
The aim of this guideline is to provide clear, evidence-based and consensus recommendations for the index reviewing healthcare provider, regardless of level of expertise, on the need for and timing of an MRI Scan.
Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) is a clinical syndrome. These guidelines also provide for appropriate onward referral to specialist services and aims to streamline pre-transfer and pre-operative work up from the moment of the patients' first presentation.
The typical symptoms are bilateral sciatica, perianal sensory disturbance and bowel or bladder dysfunction i.e. incontinence, retention or other disturbances of normal bowel or bladder function. CES is most commonly caused by a disc herniation (which can be acute or acute on chronic) but can also be caused by compression of degenerative joints, tumours, infections or bone fragments in fractures.