Exploring physiotherapist's ability to identify cauda equina syndrome early

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Physical Therapy
• Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

• Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is a critical neurological condition requiring prompt diagnosis and management.
• Physiotherapists play a vital role in the initial assessment of patients presenting with potential CES symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the proficiency of Saudi Arabian physiotherapists in the timely identification of CES.
• To ascertain the management strategies employed by physiotherapists for patients with suspected CES.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 401 licensed physiotherapists in Saudi Arabia.
• Data collection via a 12-statement survey assessing CES identification and management abilities.
• Participants categorized into proficiency levels: proficient, good, fair, and poor based on survey responses.

Main Results:

• 63.6% of physiotherapists exhibited proficient to good ability in identifying and managing CES.
• Consensus was reached on key CES indicators, including neurogenic urinary difficulties and bilateral radiculopathy.
• High agreement (88.0%) was observed regarding the urgent need for MRI in suspected CES cases.

Conclusions:

• The majority of physiotherapists possess adequate skills for early CES identification and management.
• Findings can inform the development and enhancement of clinical guidelines for physiotherapists involved in CES care.
• Further refinement of protocols related to patient communication and management decisions for CES is suggested.