Cauda Equina Syndrome Claims

If cauda equina syndrome has been misdiagnosed or negligently treated, you may be able to make a compensation claim.

Every year, we help lots of clients just like you to claim the compensation they deserve.

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What is cauda equina syndrome?

Cauda equina syndrome is a rare, but very serious, medical condition in which the nerves at the bottom of the back suddenly become very compressed (squeezed together). These nerves are responsible for the function of the pelvis and lower limbs.

There can be numerous different causes for this including, for example, trauma to the spine, a herniated disc in the back, an infection in the spinal canal, a tumour or a narrowing of the spinal canal.

How is cauda equina diagnosed & treated?

If cauda equina syndrome is suspected, emergency admission to hospital is required. This can cause symptoms including:

Lower back pain, sometimes radiating to the buttocks and/or leg(s)
Numbness / pins and needles / tingling, sometimes in the leg(s), anus and/or genital area
Weakness, often in the leg(s)
Difficulty and/or lack of control when passing urine
Difficulty and/or lack of control when opening your bowels

At the hospital, a full history should be taken to include details such as a description of your symptoms, the timeline of how they occurred, and any relevant past medical history. An examination should also be performed to include an assessment of pain, strength, sensation and mobility. The condition is then often diagnosed following an MRI scan. Once diagnosed, emergency surgery to decompress the nerves in the spine is necessary.

What happens if there is a delay in diagnosis or treatment of cauda equina syndrome?

If diagnosed and treated early, the symptoms of cauda equina can resolve and patients can have a good prognosis. This is however dependent upon the degree of compression and damage at the time of surgery. With cauda equina syndrome, every second counts.

The longer the nerves are left compressed, the more damage is likely to have been caused. In such circumstances, the outcome from surgery can be devastating and catastrophic. Patients may subsequently suffer from life changing injuries, including ongoing pain, impaired bladder and bowel control, motor and sensory paralysis, and also sexual dysfunction, all of which could be permanent. The impact of a delay in diagnosis can therefore be huge and can very often result in the need for care, assistance and other aids for the rest of a patient’s life.

The greater the delay in diagnosis and treatment, the worse the outcome is likely to be.

Can you make a compensation claim?

If you believe you have suffered as a result of delayed diagnosis or negligently treated cauda equina syndrome, you may be eligible to claim compensation.

Due to the complex medical and legal issues involved, it is essential that you talk to a specialist clinical negligence solicitor. A specialist will understand all the implications of a cauda equina injury. This means that they can maximise your compensation if you succeed in your claim. We are happy to offer free, confidential, and professional advice on potential clinical negligence claims.

It is important to contact us as soon as possible. This is because there are strict time limits in place for making a claim for compensation. Once contacted, our solicitors will be able to advise you specifically on the facts of your own case. We even have an in-house dual-qualified doctor/solicitor who can assist in assessing whether or not you may have suffered from clinical negligence.

Why choose us?

Our team is headed by a dual-qualified doctor and solicitor, so we benefit from in-house medical knowledge. Our team of specialist clinical negligence solicitors would be happy to help. We can quickly and efficiently assess any areas of potential negligence for a wide range of claims.

We have also developed brilliant working relationships with experts in many different fields, including Neurosurgery, Urology and Care and Occupational Therapy, who we know to be approachable and reliable in assisting us with cauda equina compensation claims, which in turn allows us to ensure we get great expert advice for our clients.

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Cauda Equina Syndrome Claims

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What is cauda equina syndrome?

How is cauda equina diagnosed & treated?

What happens if there is a delay in diagnosis or treatment of cauda equina syndrome?

Can you make a compensation claim?

Why choose us?

Medical Negligence case studies

Key contacts

Olivia Haslam

Megan Wilson

Liz Fry

Linda Schermer-Jones

Kerry Goulden

Emma Williams

Get in touch