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Síndrome da cauda equina

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  • Descripción general
  • Teoría
  • Diagnóstico
  • Manejo
  • Seguimiento
  • Recursos
Última revisión: 12 Dec 2025
Última actualización: 06 Feb 2023

Resumen

Definición

Anamnesis y examen

Principales factores de diagnóstico

  • disfunção vesical
  • fraqueza nos membros inferiores
  • parestesia/anestesia em sela
  • disfunção intestinal
Todos los datos

Otros factores de diagnóstico

  • lombalgia
  • ciática
  • disfunção sexual
Todos los datos

Factores de riesgo

  • hérnia de disco lombar
  • trauma espinhal
  • cirurgia da coluna vertebral
  • abscesso epidural espinhal
  • terapia anticoagulante
  • estenose da coluna vertebral
  • tumor da medula espinhal
  • menos de 50 anos de idade
Todos los datos

Pruebas diagnósticas

Primeras pruebas diagnósticas para solicitar

  • RNM da coluna lombar sem contraste IV
  • TC da coluna lombar sem contraste IV
Todos los datos

Pruebas diagnósticas que deben considerarse

  • Mielotomografia da coluna lombar
  • teste urodinâmico
  • exame de toque retal
Todos los datos

Algoritmo de tratamiento

Agudo

SCE confirmada

Colaboradores

Autores

Kenneth F. Casey, MD, FACS

Clinical Associate Professor

Neurosurgery

Michigan State University

Clinical Associate Professor

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Wayne State University School of Medicine

Detroit

MI

Divulgaciones

KFC declares that he has no competing interests.

Revisores por pares

Kevin Barraclough, MA, FRCP, FRCGP, LLB

GP

Painswick Surgery

Painswick

Gloucester

UK

Divulgaciones

KB is an author of references cited in this topic. KB declares that he has no competing interests.

Louis Chang, MD

Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery

Weill Cornell Medicine

New York

NY

Disclosures

LC declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewer acknowledgements

BMJ Best Practice topics are updated on a rolling basis in line with developments in evidence and guidance. The peer reviewers listed here have reviewed the content at least once during the history of the topic.

Disclosures

Peer reviewer affiliations and disclosures pertain to the time of the review.

References

Our in-house evidence and editorial teams collaborate with international expert contributors and peer reviewers to ensure that we provide access to the most clinically relevant information possible.

Key articles

Todd NV, Dickson RA. Standards of care in cauda equina syndrome. Br J Neurosurg. 2016 Oct;30(5):518-22. Abstract

Finucane LM, Downie A, Mercer C, et al. International framework for red flags for potential serious spinal pathologies. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2020 Jul;50(7):350-72.Full text  Abstract

Expert Panel on Neurological Imaging., Hutchins TA, Peckham M, et al. ACR appropriateness criteria® low back pain: 2021 update. J Am Coll Radiol. 2021 Nov;18(11s):S361-79.Full text  Abstract

Germon T, Ahuja S, Casey ATH, et al. British Association of Spine Surgeons standards of care for cauda equina syndrome. Spine J. 2015 Mar 2;15(3 suppl):S2-4. Abstract

Chau AM, Xu LL, Pelzer NR, et al. Timing of surgical intervention in cauda equina syndrome: a systematic critical review. World Neurosurg. 2014 Mar-Apr;81(3-4):640-50.Full text  Abstract

Epstein NE. Review/perspective: operations for cauda equina syndromes - "The sooner the better". 2022 Mar 25;13:100.Full text  Abstract

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.

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