症例 challenge · Spine surgery / Neurology / Emergency · teaching

Cauda Equina Syndrome — Management Pathway · case challenge

Given a case, work through the care pathway step by step; the tool checks each choice and scores you. Decisions and basis are taken from this site's reviewed care pathways.

← View the full flowchartBased on AANS

Case #1Spine surgery / Neurology / Emergency

📋 Case data

Red flags present?Back pain only, no red flags

Data is taken from this pathway's reviewed node text. Work through the pathway step by step.

Step 1 / 1 · Red flags present?

Are cauda equina red flags present?

💡 Red flags: saddle anesthesia (perineal/perianal S3–S5), bladder dysfunction (urinary retention most common, with overflow incontinence / reduced sensation of voiding), bowel dysfunction (incontinence or loss of anal tone/sensation), bilateral leg pain/weakness/sciatica, sexual dysfunction; often with severe back pain. Causes: lumbar disc herniation (most common), spinal stenosis, tumor, epidural abscess/hematoma, trauma.

For teaching. Decisions and their basis are taken from this site's reviewed care pathways; for licensed clinicians/trainees, this does not replace clinical judgment or local protocols.