title: Against the odds: extraordinary recovery from complete cauda equina syndrome following L3 fracture. Time still matters.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cauda equina syndrome secondary to lumbar fracture is a relative rare event. Although it is usually considered as an emergency, there is still controversy in the literature regarding the optimal timeframe of surgical intervention in complete spinal cord and cauda equina injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a case of a 24-year-old victim of a road traffic accident admitted with an L3 fracture causing complete cauda equina syndrome, who underwent early surgery within 12 h and made an extraordinary recovery (from AIS A to E).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the timing of surgery in complete traumatic spinal cord injury and cauda equina syndrome remains controversial, this case highlights the importance of early surgical intervention even in complete injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Addenbrooke's Hospital , Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Antiga
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Addenbrooke's Hospital , Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Klint Asafu
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Adajay
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Addenbrooke's Hospital , Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Fahim
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Anwar
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Addenbrooke's Hospital , Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vergara
keywords: Fracture repair; Trauma