The cauda equina is the bundle of lumbar, sacral and coccygeal nerve roots that continues behind the end of the spinal cord. When it is compressed or stretched, the cat shows lower motor neuron signs: pain in the lumbosacral region, a low or limp tail, pelvic limb weakness, and loss of bladder or bowel control. In cats this is rare when caused by degenerative lumbosacral disease, whereas sacrocaudal (tail-pull) injury after trauma is the pattern most likely to be seen in practice.
Key facts
Cauda equina syndrome at a glance- Species and system: cats; nervous (lumbosacral and sacrocaudal region).
- Causes: degenerative lumbosacral stenosis (rare), trauma such as sacrocaudal luxation (tail pull), and other lesions of the region such as discospondylitis or tumors.
- Classic presentation: lumbosacral pain, low tail carriage, difficulty jumping and urinary or fecal incontinence (Harris 2019).
- Key tests: neurologic examination (tail tone, anal tone, perineal sensation, bladder), radiographs, CT or MRI.
- Treatment: surgery for degenerative stenosis; bladder management and time for tail-pull injury.
- Zoonotic or reportable: no.
What's inside
11 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 3 tables, 3 self-test questions and 6 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
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