Abstract
Purpose
To understand the usefulness of the lumbar MRI studies to establish therapeutic plans for cauda equina syndrome (CES) including the management of rectal and bladder dysfunction symptoms.
Materials and Methods
We retrospectively reviewed the lumbar MRI studies of 10 patients with CES. Their diagnoses included four adhesive arachnoiditis of cauda equina (CE), three conus medullaris atrophies, three spinal canal stenoses, one tuberculous leptomeningitis, one metastatic tumor on the sacral canal, and one dural arteriovenous fistula with venous congestion of the conus medullaris.
Results
In 6 of the 10 total cases the symptoms of rectal and bladder dysfunction were resolved by decompression laminectomies (n=2), irradiation (n=1), glue embolization (n=1), anticholine and steroid infusion (n=1), and anti-tuberculous medication (n=1) within at least 5 days. The 4 other cases were settled by lumboperitoneal shunting and neural stem cell implants.
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