Cauda Equina Syndrome is associated with symptoms characteristic of spinal nerve compression. These are known as the red flag symptoms and should act as a warning to medical professionals that a patient required urgent decompression surgery.
What are the red flags of Cauda Equina Syndrome?
The red flag symptoms of Cauda Equina Syndrome are as follows:-
- Lower back and leg pain (either in one or both legs);
- Onset of bladder dysfunction, usually involving increased frequency but with the inability to fully void;
- Onset of bowel dysfunction, which may involve constipation or faecal incontinence (due to anal sphincter laxity);
- Onset of numbness in the perineum, genitalia and buttocks.
When a patient presents with these symptoms concurrently, medical professionals should immediately recognise them as the red flags of Cauda Equina Syndrome – so called because they should warn doctors to the possibility of spinal nerve compression. No time should be wasted in performing blood and urine tests, and a physical examination. If the results do indicate nerve compression, an urgent MRI scan should be carried out and, if a lesion is present, emergency decompression surgery performed.
Failure to detect cauda equina red flag symptoms
However, all too often medical professionals fail to recognise the red flag symptoms of Cauda Equina Syndrome.
Blame may not be attributed if a patient presents with one symptom in isolation – for example, he or she only has back pain, or only has urinary complaints. But as soon as more than one red flag symptom appears, medical professionals should realise the need to confirm or rule out Cauda Equina Syndrome.
If doctors fail to appreciate that a patient is displaying the red flag symptoms of Cauda Equina Syndrome, they will be considered negligent. This is because any reasonably competent medical professional should be aware of the red flag symptoms, and be able to identify a patient who is suffering from them. A reasonably competent medical professional would then carry out a series of urgent diagnostic tests to confirm whether or not their suspicions are correct. If there is a failure to meet this standard of care, there will be a case of medical negligence.
Making a compensation claim for Cauda Equina Syndrome
If you believe you have been in a victim of medical negligence because doctors failed to recognise the red flag symptoms of Cauda Equina Syndrome, you need to talk to a solicitor about claiming compensation.
For more information on making a claim, contact us today at the Cauda Equina Solicitors.