[Syndroma caudae equinae of rare etiology]

The results of treatment patients suffering from syndroma caudae equinae (SCE) are not generally satisfactory. The authors decided to evaluate occurrence according to etiology and permanent consequences after treatment in patients that were treated at the Department of Neurosurgery P. J. Safarik University Hospital in Kosice during 12 years (1996-2007). 95 patients from the 101 members file had SCE caused by disc herniation or spinal stenosis. Rare etiology of SCE was found in the six cases: three had traumatic origin, one spinal epidural abscess, one tumor. SCE developed after surgery of intervetebral disc herniation in one patient. Patients underwent control examination or answered by a questionnaire one year from the beginning of SCE or later. Three patients with traumatic SCE had the moderate residual problems. One patient suffered from intermittent pain, perianogenital hypesthesia had two patients, light motor deficit another one. One patient needs to use increased abdominal pressure for urination. Nobody from this subgroup had sexual difficulties or problems with anal spincters' control. The result of treatment patient with SCE caused by spinal epidural abscess was unfavourable. Permanent pain, perianogenital hypesthesia, hard motor deficit and loss of sexual functions persisted. Patient with oncological SCE had deficit in every traced signs. Similar clinical picture was in a patient with postoperative SCE, but residual deficit was moderate.