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Case Reports
. 2023 Jun 1;61(262):566-568.
doi: 10.31729/jnma.8173.

Cauda Equina Syndrome in a Military Personnel: A Case Report

Anup Rai  1 , Kiran Ghimire  1 , Omkar K C  1 , Samir Pudasaini  1 , Sumnima Rai  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Cauda Equina Syndrome in a Military Personnel: A Case Report

Anup Rai et al. JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc. .

Abstract

Cauda equina syndrome is a rare but severe neuro-spinal disorder commonly caused due to lumbar disc herniation, which occurs mostly at lower levels of L4-S1. We report a case of 38-year-old male soldier deployed on a foreign mission who presented to a level 1 military hospital 4 months back with complaints of decreased movement of bilateral lower limbs and severe low back pain radiating to the right lower limb for 2 hours. He was referred to a higher centre and diagnosed with cauda equina syndrome due to massive disc herniation at levels L2-L3. He underwent laminotomy and discectomy of the extruded intervertebral disc after 48 hours. On subsequent follow-up, his bladder and lower limbs sensations were normal however, he had bowel incontinence, hypotonia, hyporeflexia, and no significant improvement in power. Hence, early diagnosis, referral, and timely intervention affect the outcomes in a cauda equina syndrome patient.

Keywords: case reports; cauda equina syndrome; disc herniation; low back pain; military personnel.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. T2 sagittal section MRI of Lumbo Sacral Spine.
Figure 2
Figure 2. T2 sagittal section MRI of the cervical and thoracic spine.
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