When making a cauda equina claim, it will be necessary to establish when the condition became complete. In this article we explore why the timings are so important.
Incomplete and complete CES
Incomplete cauda equina syndrome is the first stage of the condition. It means the patient still has a degree of bladder sensation and control. If treated in this stage, a patient can regain normal neurological function.
Complete cauda equina syndrome is the second and final stage of the condition. It means the patient has no bladder sensation or control. This will lead to painless urinary retention and, when the bladder becomes full, urinary incontinence. If treated in this stage, there is little hope that a patient will regain neurological function as the nerves will be irreparably damaged.
Timing of CES treatment
Timings are therefore vital in CES cases, as this will determine whether or not there has been a breach of duty.
For example, if a patient arrives at A&E for the first time and he/she already has urinary retention, it will be too late for doctors to act. The same applies if a patient develops complete CES within hours of arriving, as the hospital will not have enough time to perform surgery.
On the other hand, if a patient arrives with incomplete cauda equina syndrome, there will be a window of opportunity in which to successfully treat the condition. If medical practitioners miss this chance because of unnecessary delays, the level of care will be considered unacceptable.
Cauda equina claims
When making a cauda equina claim, your legal team will want to find out exactly when you progressed from incomplete CES to complete CES. The best indicator of complete CES is urinary retention. The moment you developed this symptom represents the last possible time at which surgery could have reversed the problem.
If the hospital had enough time to treat cauda equina syndrome before you developed retention, but it failed to do so because of unreasonable delays, there will be grounds for a strong claim.
Claiming compensation for cauda equina syndrome
If you would like to claim compensation for cauda equina syndrome, please get in touch with us today. We specialise in cauda equina claims and will be able to say whether or not you have the basis for a claim. If so, we will help you obtain the compensation you deserve.