Sub-categories of Cauda equina syndrome

• 4 stages of CES:

  1. CES-S (suspected)
  2. CES-I (incomplete)
  3. CES-R (retention)
  4. CES-C (complete)
• CES-S (suspected):

  • Bilateral radicular pain
  • Progressing unilateral pain
• CES-I (incomplete):

  • Urinary difficulties of neurological origin
  • Altered urinary sensation
  • Loss of desire to void
  • Poor urinary stream
  • Need to strain to micturate
• CES-R (retention):

  • Painless urinary retention and overflow incontinence
• CES-C (complete):

  • Objective loss of CE function
  • Absent perineal sensation
  • Patulous anus (spread open)
  • Paralysed insensate bladder and bowel