Cauda equina in pregnancy

Sie Ong Ting, L. Shailendranath, M. Skehan, P. Kiely

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Presentation A 29-year-old primiparous woman presented to the emergency room at gestation 31+4 weeks with severe pelvic and back pain, along with urinary retention, numbness and tingling sensation in her lower limbs and buttocks. Diagnosis She was reviewed by the physiotherapist and an MRI of the spine confirmed severe central canal stenosis at L4 and L5 with compression of cauda equina. Treatment Emergency discectomy was performed, and the patient recovered well. She underwent elective caesarean section at 38 weeks’ gestation delivering a healthy baby boy weighing 3460g. Discussion Due to mechanical and positional overload, 56% pregnant women complain of lower back pain with the incidence of cauda equina reported as 1:10000. Conservative management is the primary treatment, but surgical intervention should be considered if symptoms worsen and surgery is not contraindicated at any stage of pregnancy.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberP306
JournalIrish Medical Journal
Volume114
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - 2021
Externally publishedYes

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