What are the components of the cauda equina

The main nerve of the cauda equina actually refers to the lumbar and sacral nerve roots below the conus medullaris, all of which belong to the cauda equina. Injury to the cauda equina nerve is a common problem in life, so if pain or some abnormal problems occur, you must pay attention to it.

1. Cauda equina , a medical term, refers to the lumbar sacral nerve roots below the conus medullaris. The cauda equina is composed of 10 pairs of nerve roots from L2-5, S1-5 and the coccyx. Cauda equina damage is relatively common in clinical practice. Most of the time, it is due to various congenital or acquired reasons that lead to absolute or relative stenosis of the lumbar spinal canal, compressing the cauda equina and causing a series of neurological dysfunctions. The best measure for CES treatment is surgery. The principle is early diagnosis, early surgery, and emergency surgery when necessary. The purpose of surgery is to relieve pressure and loosen adhesions.

2. The cauda equina is composed of lumbar and sacral nerve roots (L2-S1) , so damage to the cauda equina nerve roots may cause symptoms similar to those of combined lumbar enlargement and conus medullaris lesions. However, since the cauda equina runs for a long time, its clinical manifestations vary depending on the lesion. Generally speaking, the higher the location of the cauda equina lesion, the more nerve roots are affected and the more extensive the symptoms. The characteristics of cauda equina neuropathy are often unilateral or bilateral asymmetry, radicular pain located in the perineum, thigh or calf, and often spontaneous pain radiating to the perineum and buttocks. The lower limbs may show signs of lower motor neuron paralysis and defecation disorders.

3. Pain

It is the most common early symptom, manifested as lumbar pain or sciatica, which may be aggravated by factors that increase intraspinal pressure such as coughing, sneezing, changing body position, and activity.

4. Symptoms of nerve damage

In the early stage, other clinical symptoms and signs are not obvious. After that, the nerve damage progressively worsens, and lower limb weakness, flaccid paralysis, or sensory impairment of both lower limbs and perineum occurs. Sensory and motor impairment may begin on one side and gradually spread to the other side.

5. Sphincter disorders

This symptom is obvious and sometimes the first symptom. In the early stage, sphincter spasm causes difficulty in urination and urine retention. In the late stage, sphincter relaxation causes fecal and fecal incontinence, and men may also suffer from impotence.