What happens if the conus medullaris is damaged?
What happens if the conus medullaris is damaged?
Following a spinal cord injury, symptoms of conus medullaris syndrome develop rapidly and on both sides of the body by presenting: Weakness or tingling in your lower limbs. Sexual dysfunction. Incontinence.
Is Conus Medullaris syndrome an emergency?
[1] Both syndromes are neurosurgical emergencies as they can present with back pain radiating to the legs, motor and sensory dysfunction of the lower extremities, bladder and/or bowel dysfunction, sexual dysfunction and saddle anesthesia.
How do you distinguish between conus medullaris and cauda equina?
Saddle and perineal hypoesthesia or anesthesia. Bowel and bladder disturbances. Lower extremity motor weakness and sensory deficits. Reduced or absent lower extremity reflexes….History.
| Conus Medullaris Syndrome | Cauda Equina Syndrome | |
|---|---|---|
| Reflexes | Knee jerks preserved but ankle jerks affected | Both ankle and knee jerks affected |
What happens in conus medullaris?
The conus medullaris is the terminal end of the spinal cord, which typically occurs at the L1 vertebral level in the average adult. Conus medullaris syndrome (CMS) results when there is compressive damage to the spinal cord from T12-L2.
How is Conus Medullaris syndrome treated?
Treatment for Conus Medullaris Syndrome Spinal decompression surgery often helps, and if a physical impediment to function remains—such as a tumor or the remnants of a bullet—your doctor may remove these to restore spinal function. Radiation may help if your symptoms are due to cancer.
How is conus medullaris syndrome treated?
Is Conus Medullaris syndrome curable?
Treatment varies, and depends on the cause of the injury as well as its extent. Spinal decompression surgery often helps, and if a physical impediment to function remains—such as a tumor or the remnants of a bullet—your doctor may remove these to restore spinal function.
Can a CT scan detect cauda equina syndrome?
CT-PTSE <50% appears to reliably rule out cauda equina impingement. This imaging marker may serve as an additional tool for the clinician in helping to decide whether MR imaging can be deferred, and it has the potential to lower associated health care costs.
What is the treatment for Conus Medullaris syndrome?
Can you walk with conus medullaris?
By and large, patients with conus medullaris injuries are able to walk well, hold down jobs and play sport. Unlike the patients with high cord injuries they have a low incidence of urological and skin problems.