Acute Cauda Equina Syndrome Due to Spondylolisthesis in the Midst of a Pandemic: A Case Report

February 11, 2022

doi: 10.2106/JBJS.CC.20.00546.

Affiliations

¹ The Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
² The Spine Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
³ Department of Neurological Surgery, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
⁴ Multidisciplinary Pain Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
⁵ Department of Anesthesiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
⁶ The Arthur S. Abramson Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.

Item in Clipboard

Aleksandr Isakov et al.

JBJS Case Connect.

2022.

doi: 10.2106/JBJS.CC.20.00546.

Affiliations

¹ The Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
² The Spine Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
³ Department of Neurological Surgery, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
⁴ Multidisciplinary Pain Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
⁵ Department of Anesthesiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
⁶ The Arthur S. Abramson Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.

Item in Clipboard

Abstract

Case:

A 54-year-old woman with chronic lumbar radiculopathy due to grade II spondylolisthesis at lumbar 4 to 5 developed acute cauda equina syndrome (CES) after an elective lumbar decompression, and fusion was delayed because of statewide bans on elective procedures during the pandemic. The diagnosis was made largely through telehealth consultation and eventually prompted urgent neurosurgical intervention.

Conclusion:

This case report illustrates a rare presentation of acute CES and highlights some of the challenges of practicing clinical medicine in the midst of a pandemic.

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: The Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest forms are provided with the online version of the article (http://links.lww.com/JBJSCC/B503).

References

1. Gardner A, Gardner E, Morley T. Cauda equina syndrome: a review of the current clinical and medico-legal position. Eur Spine J. 2011;20(5):690-7.
1. McNamee J, Flynn P, O’Leary S, Love M, Kelly B. Imaging in cauda equina syndrome: a pictorial review. Ulster Med J. 2013;82(2):100-8.
1. Ebraheim N, Elgafy H, Gagnet P, Andrews K, Kern K. Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis: a review of the literature. J Orthop. 2018;15(2):404-7.
1. Kalichman L, Hunter DJ. Diagnosis and conservative management of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. Eur Spine J. 2008;17(3):327-35.
1. Frenay J, Lambooy N. Cauda equina syndrome following spondylolisthesis by low lumbar involvement of chronic rheumatoid arthritis [in French]. Neurochirurgie;20(5):431-40.