[Spinal root compression and results of treatment of discogenic cauda equina syndrome]

Several experimental and clinical studies suggest an important role of the quality and quantity of the material compressing the lumbosacral spinal cord radices in the development of cauda equina syndrome. These facts inspired the author to find out if the repair of neurological functions depends also on these factors. Clinical investigations of 81 persons (30 women and 51 men) were performed at minimum time of two years after the operation of the cauda equina discogenic syndrome. Mathematical analysis of the acquired data (chi-quadrate) revealed that so-called soft compression of neural structures (intervertebral disc hernia, sequester liber) negatively influenced the restoration of lower extremities motor functions (p = 0.01), sexual functions in men (p = 0.05) and radicular pain persistence (p = 0.01). On the other hand, the so-called hard compression (spondylosis deformans and protrusion of intervertebral disc) negatively influenced the restoration of sensitive innervation (p = 0.01) and voluntary control of urinary bladder emptying (p = 0.01). (Tab. 7, Ref. 24.)