title: Delays in the treatment of cauda equina syndrome due to its variable clinical features in patients presenting to the emergency department.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify reasons for delay in management of patients with cauda equina syndrome (CES) and to determine commonly presented features of CES.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospectively, the presenting features and management of patients treated for CES over a 4-year period were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reasons for delay in treatment were identified in over half of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most patients do not present with all the characteristic features of CES. Sacral sensory loss is a sensitive and relatively specific sign for diagnosing CES.
authors.affiliation: St Mary's Hospital, London, UK. ibjalloh@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jalloh
authors.forename: Pawan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Minhas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001004:Anus Diseases / Q000150:complications; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004630:Emergencies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000150:complications; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000150:complications; D011128:Polyradiculopathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012018:Reflex; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012585:Sciatica / Q000150:complications; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000150:complications; D013997:Time Factors