RESEARCH ARTICLE
Documentation of Focal Neurology on Patients with Suspected Cauda Equina Syndrome and the Development of an Assessment Proforma
Nisarg Mehta*, David Garbera, Jeremy Kaye , Muthukrishnan Ramakrishnan
Article Information
Identifiers and Pagination:
Year: 2015Volume: 9
First Page: 390
Last Page: 394
Publisher ID: TOORTHJ-9-390
DOI: 10.2174/1874325001509010390
Article History:
Received Date: 19/12/2014Revision Received Date: 9/6/2015
Acceptance Date: 1/7/2015
Electronic publication date: 31/8/2015
Collection year: 2015
open-access license: This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted, non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.
Abstract
Objective :
Cauda equina syndrome is a relatively rare condition with a disproportionately high medico legal profile. Definitive management involves prompt surgical decompression with outcome dependent on timing of surgery. Documentation of a comprehensive clinical and neurological assessment including examination of anal tone and perianal sensation is essential in reducing litigation and identifying patients requiring urgent surgical decompression. The aim of this study was to evaluate the documentation of focal neurology in patients with suspected cauda equina syndrome and devise an assessment proforma to use in the accident and emergency departments.
Methods :
A retrospective case note review was performed in all patients presenting to A&E with suspected cauda equina syndrome from January 2013 to March 2014. A full neurological examination was defined as having all modalities documented such as: MRC grade power, reflexes, sensory exam, vibration proprioception, anal tone & perianal sensation.
Results :
Sixty-nine patients with suspected cauda equina syndrome were identified with a median age of 44 (35-55) and a male to female ratio of 1:1.6. 4 patients (6%) had confirmed cauda equina syndrome and were transferred to a tertiary neurosurgical centre for further management. Only 2 patients (3%) had a complete neurological examination documented. 11 (16%) patients did not have any documentation of perianal sensation and 8 patients (12%) did not have documentation of anal tone
Conclusion :
Documentation of neurological was poor across our department. The introduction of an assessment proforma is proposed to increase documentation and optimise emergency department evaluation in these patients.
