PMID: 8951209Nov 1, 1996Paper

Hemi-cauda equina syndrome from herniated lumbar disc: a neurosurgical emergency?

The Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences. Le Journal Canadien Des Sciences Neurologiques
R H Bartels, J de Vries

Abstract

We report experience with patients presenting with a specific combination of symptoms: unilateral sciatica, unilateral sensibility loss in the dermatomes S1 to S5 (hemi-saddle) and subjective micturation problems secondary to ruptured lumbar disc. Because of its similarities with a cauda equina syndrome, this combination of symptoms was thought to be a unilateral cauda equina syndrome and it was called hemi-cauda equina syndrome. Consequently, it was treated as an emergency. Ten patients were evaluated. They compromised 2.3% of all patients undergoing lumbar discectomy. Outcome is good with only 10% persisting minor neurologic deficit (sensibility loss in dermatomes S3 to S5). With the exception of urinary retention or incontinence, duration of symptoms and signs does not seem to influence outcome. Comparing signs, symptoms and radiographic findings with those of a cauda equina syndrome which were recently and thoroughly studied, they were found to be more severe in cases of cauda equina syndrome. Especially, the good outcome, (apparently unrelated to the duration of symptoms in cases of hemi-cauda equina syndrome) contrasted with the treatment results of cauda equina syndrome. We defined the hemi-cauda equina syndrome from rup...Continue Reading

References

Apr 15, 1990·Annals of Internal Medicine·R A DeyoS J Bigos

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Citations

Dec 15, 2012·European Spine Journal : Official Publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society·N S KorseC L A M Vleggeert-Lankamp
Nov 5, 2003·Neurourology and Urodynamics·Tomonori YamanishiKen-Ichiro Yoshida
Apr 2, 2008·Journal of Neurosurgery. Spine·W Bradford DeLongBlazej Neradilek
Jun 7, 2006·British Journal of Neurosurgery·C O OluigboM S Choksey
May 5, 2009·Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques·William C OliveroLynne Lyle
Sep 14, 2001·Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America·L A CurtisR D Cespedes
Feb 14, 2006·The Medical Clinics of North America·Michael E WintersJeffrey Zilberstein
Sep 6, 2011·The Spine Journal : Official Journal of the North American Spine Society·Kristen E RadcliffAlexander R Vaccaro

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