Cauda equina syndrome often presents with which symptom?

Cauda equina syndrome often presents with which symptom?

• A. Bowel and bladder dysfunction
• B. Visual changes
• C. Hearing loss
• D. Palpitations

Answer: (A)

Cauda equina syndrome occurs when the lower spinal nerve roots are compressed, affecting the nerves that control bowel and bladder function. The hallmark symptom is bowel and bladder dysfunction—urinary retention or incontinence, and sometimes fecal incontinence—because the sacral nerves (S2–S4) regulate the detrusor muscle and the external anal sphincter. This is a surgical emergency: urgent evaluation with imaging and decompression is needed to prevent permanent nerve damage. Visual changes, hearing loss, or palpitations aren’t produced by compression of these sacral nerves, so they don’t fit this syndrome.

Cauda equina syndrome occurs when the lower spinal nerve roots are compressed, affecting the nerves that control bowel and bladder function. The hallmark symptom is bowel and bladder dysfunction—urinary retention or incontinence, and sometimes fecal incontinence—because the sacral nerves (S2–S4) regulate the detrusor muscle and the external anal sphincter. This is a surgical emergency: urgent evaluation with imaging and decompression is needed to prevent permanent nerve damage. Visual changes, hearing loss, or palpitations aren’t produced by compression of these sacral nerves, so they don’t fit this syndrome.