title: Cauda equina syndrome following sacral fractures: a report of three cases.
abstract: We report 3 patients with cauda equina syndrome (CES) secondary to a sacral fracture. The difficulty in early diagnosis of CES and the lack of evidence and guidance on treatment are highlighted. When there is a sacral fracture, CES should be suspected. Thorough clinical examination including digital rectal examinations and bladder function quantification is advised. The threshold for performing computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis should be low. Patients should be treated by a multi-disciplinary team with both orthopaedic and neurosurgical input. Further studies are needed to identify the timing and to which patients surgical decompression should be performed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, The Whittington Hospital, Archway, London, United Kingdom. n.aresti@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aresti
authors.forename: Govin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Murugachandran
authors.forename: Rohit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shetty
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011128:Polyradiculopathy / Q000209:etiology*; D012447:Sacrum / Q000293:injuries*