The clinical definition of cauda equina syndrome is muscle weakness in both lower limb along with inability to control urine. Most often caused by sudden onset disc prolapse but can be secondary to infection/trauma/degenerative disease process. It is one of the rare emergency situations in spine surgery where the surgery must be performed at the earliest. Although partial loss of control of urine does not qualify as cauda equina syndrome it is often labelled as impending cauda equina syndrome. And it should be treated with the same urgency as one would treat cauda equina syndrome.

Treatment Options

1.Decompression alone
2.Decompression with fixation.