Cauda equina syndrome post-caesarean section

Cauda equina syndrome is rarely associated with pregnancy, with few cases reported in the literature. The majority of cases describe antenatal presentations, with only one case manifesting post-partum, three weeks after a normal vaginal delivery. We outline a case of cauda equina syndrome following caesarean section in a patient with known lumbar disc disease, and discuss the contribution of the mode of delivery and anaesthesia as precipitants of disc herniation causing cauda equina compression. We conclude that vigilance, particularly in the post-partum setting, be attributed towards the neurological surveillance of women with known disc disease.