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PubMed2003

[Unusual complication after combined spinal/epidural anaesthesia].

An 31-year-old women with a long history of back pain without neurological symptoms underwent a caesarean section during the 36th week of pregnancy with combined spinal-epidural anaesthesia. Indication was the increasingly severe back pain. She delivered a normal healthy boy. On the 3rd day after surgery she developed a discrete sensory cauda equina syndrome on the left side. The interpretation of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was a tumor in the thecal sac extending from the middle of the vertebral body of L-1 to the the superior vertebral plate of L-3. A few days later she underwent a laminectomy under general anaesthesia with resection of an intradural mass adherent to the cauda equina. Pathological review of the surgical specimen revealed a myxopapillary ependymoma WHO grade I. The postoperative course was uncomplicated with preservation of bladder dysfunction but after 4 weeks the bladder function was normalised.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia) of the spinal cord: case reports and clinical profile.

Eight cases of schistosomiasis of the spinal cord are described. These fall into two groups. Four patients had clinical and myelographic evidence of lesions in the conus medullaris and were found to have bilharzial granulomas at operation. Four patients had normal or equivocal myelographic appearances, but the coincidence of unexplained lower cord or cauda equina lesions with evidence of bilharzia led to the presumed diagnosis of spinal cord bilharzia. These patients, together with data from 39 cases reported in the world literature since 1969, have been used to compile a clinical profile of this condition. The clinical picture is the product of two types of reaction to bilharzial infestation, granuloma and necrotic myelitis, affecting the lower cord and cauda equina in varying proportions. Granuloma is the better defined entity because it is diagnosed following operation and biopsy. Myelitis is seldom proved and its diagnosis depends on circumstantial evidence. Both S. mansoni and S. haematobium may be responsible for either type.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Posterior epidural migration of lumbar disc fragments: report of three cases.

STUDY DESIGN: Report of three cases. OBJECTIVES: To describe a rare location of intervertebral disc migration. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Migration of sequestered disc fragments to the posterior extradural space is rare, and posterior migration of the free fragments causing cauda equina syndrome is exceptionally rare. METHODS: Three patients with posteriorly migrated epidural disc fragments were evaluated with radiograph, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging and underwent surgery. RESULTS: All of the patients responded well to operative therapy with complete relief of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Early surgery should be the first choice of therapy in patients with large posteriorly migrated sequestered disc fragments, to prevent severe neurologic deficits such as cauda equina and conus medullaris syndromes.

Diskectomy↗

PubMed1996

[A new embedding material for morphometry: Shiojirin E-10].

For morphometric studies, sections have been stained with the Luxol fast blue-PAS-Hematoxylin (LPH) staining method after secondary fixation with chromic acid followed by embedding in Celloidin to measure the area of nerve cells or axons with the help of an image analyzer and a microscope. However, the manufacture of Celloidin has been suspended in Japan. Therefore, we studied the use of Shiojirin E-10 (10% nitrocellulose ether alcohol solution) as a substitute embedding material, and compared it with Celloidin from the viewpoint of tissue shrinkage and staining characteristics. Regarding the shrinkage ratio of LPH-stained sections of human cauda equina, there was no practical difference in the axonal areas (p < 0.01) between Celloidin sections (4.31 +/- 2.55 microns2) and Shiojirin E-10 sections (4.14 +/- 2.20 microns2). Regarding staining characteristics, we introduced a hue analysis method using computerized digital signals converted from pictures of stained sections taken by a videocamera. For the evaluation of hue, we examined the H-E sections of mouse liver and kidney, and the LPH sections of the human cauda equina. The hematoxylin hues of the H-E sections were 295 degrees for Celloidin and 294 degrees for Shiojirin E-10. Eosin hues of the E-E sections were 320 degrees for both embedding material. The axonal hues of the LPH stain were 254 degrees for Celloidin and 251 degrees for Shiojirin E-10. Myelin sheath hues were 224 degrees for both embedding material. According to our results, Shiojirin E-10 can be substituted for Celloidin from the qualitative and quantitative viewpoints in the morphologic studies.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Motor evoked potentials (MEP) and evoked pressure curves (EPC) from the urethral compressive musculature (UCM) by functional magnetic stimulation in healthy volunteers and patients with neurogenic incontinence.

AIMS: The aim of this study is to assess neurogenic lesions of the somatomotor efferent nervous pathway to the urethral compressive musculature (UCM) by means of motor evoked potentials (MEP) and simultaneously recorded evoked pressure curves (EPC). METHODS: Nine healthy subjects and 33 patients (15 spinal cord injury, 14 cauda equina lesion, and 4 multiple sclerosis (MS)) with neurogenic urinary incontinence were prospectively examined by means of urodynamics and electrophysiology. MEP responses from the UCM were evoked after transcranial (tc) and lumbosacral (ls) single pulse magnetic stimulation. A ratio out of tx/ls latencies was calculated to distinguish between central (i.e., spinal) and peripheral lesions. The mechanical UCM pressure responses (=EPC) were recorded simultaneously with electromyographic (EMG) recordings using a microtip pressure transducer catheter with integrated bipolar surface electrodes. RESULTS: In nine healthy subjects the central latency was 19.0 msec, the peripheral latency was 4.25 msec, and the ratio was 4.4. In patients with incomplete spinal cord lesion the central latency was significantly delayed (22.7 msec), whereas the peripheral responses were normal. The ratio (5.5) was increased. Thirteen of these 15 patients suffered from neurogenic incontinence. Patients with a complete spinal lesion showed no UCM reaction after tc stimulation, whereas peripheral responses were normal. Patients with MS showed significantly prolonged central latencies (25.5 msec). The increased ratio of 6.0 indicated a spinal lesion. Ten patients with incomplete cauda equina lesions and urinary incontinence had normal central latencies but prolonged peripheral latencies of 6.7 msec. The ratio of 3.4 indicated a lesion of the sacral caudal roots. In patients with complete cauda injury neither central nor peripheral responses could be evoked. Tc evoked mechanical pressure responses (i.e., contractions) from the UCM could only be recorded in intact or incompletely injured spinal and peripheral motor nervous pathways, whereas they could be evoked after ls stimulation only in cases with partially preserved sacral caudal roots independent of a spinal lesion. CONCLUSIONS: MEP and EPC from the UCM proved to be a well tolerated disgnostic tool in patients with neurogenic incontinence that distinguished central and peripheral lesions of the motor efferent pathways to the UCM.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Spinal intradural extramedullary cavernous angioma: case report and review of the literature.

STUDY DESIGN: Case report and review of the literature. OBJECTIVE: To report an unusual case of a spinal intradural extramedullary cavernous angioma (CA), located at the cauda equina, and to compare it with the previously published 22 surgically treated cases in the literature. SETTING: Ankara, Turkey. METHOD: A 67-year-old man presented with a 4-month history of back pain and sciatica and a 4-week history of progressive lower extremity paresthesia, difficulty walking, and loss of bladder and bowel sphincter control. Neurological examination revealed bilateral hypoesthesia below the T12 dermatome with spastic paraparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cauda equina revealed a heterogeneous enhancing intradural extramedullary mass obliterating the spinal canal and expanding the spinal cord. T12 laminectomy and total tumor removal were performed without additional neurological deficit. Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a CA. RESULT: The patient's neurological status improved during postoperative recovery. He was ambulatory without assistance and regained full sphincter control on the eighth postoperative week. CONCLUSION: CAs of the spinal cord are extremely rare lesions. Typically, they present with low back pain and sciatica, neurological deficits, or as a subarachnoid hemorrhage. These lesions have characteristic features on MRI and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intradural spinal lesions. Following a thorough literature review of reported cases, the authors propose that for patients presenting with severe preoperative neurological signs, immediate microsurgical tumor excision or decompression increases the chance of neurological improvement.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Degenerative diseases of the lumbar spine. Comparison of the multiecho data image combination sequence with magnetization transfer saturation pulse versus lumbar myelography/postmyelographic computed tomography.

PURPOSE: To compare a T2* weighted 2D spoiled gradient echo multiecho sequence (MEDIC) with magnetization transfer saturation pulse versus lumbar myelography and postmyelographic computed tomography (pCT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 84 disk levels in 27 patients were examined. The vertebral bodies, intervertebral disks, neural foramina, cauda equina, ligamentum flavum, and narrowing of the spinal canal were investigated using an evaluation scale. In addition, the pCT and the MEDIC sequence were evaluated for assessing the narrowing of the neural foramina in a phantom study using a cadaver preparation of the lumbar spine. RESULTS: A total of 28 disk herniations, 11 cases of osteophytes narrowing the spinal canal or the neural foramina, and 7 spinal canal stenoses were detected. The pCT was significantly better in visualizing the cauda equina. The MEDIC sequence was significantly superior in visualizing the extension of the ligamentum flavum. No statistical differences between either image modality were found concerning assessment of the narrowing of the neural foramina and the spinal canal, nor regarding evaluation of the vertebral disk and the vertebral body. Measurements of the phantom study showed that the MEDIC sequence did not overestimate narrowing of the neural foramina. CONCLUSIONS: The T2* MEDIC sequence has proved to be as accurate as pCT in evaluating osteophytes and narrowing of the neural foramina. In doubtful standard magnetic resonance imaging findings, this means that an additional axial T2* MEDIC sequence may be of value in reaching the same accuracy as pCT.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

[Intradural extramedullary tumor of lower spinal cord in a 89-year-old man with cervical spondylosis and lumbar spondylolisthesis].

A 89-year-old man was admitted because of slowly progressive gait disturbance during these several years. Neurological examination revealed paraparesis with bilateral sensory disturbance in the lower extremities, more severely on the left side. Vibration sense was almost completely disturbed under the level of bilateral crista iliaca. Deep tendon reflexes decreased in the lower extremities. No urinary incontinence was observed. The narrow spinal canal and cervical spondylosis were seen at the C 5-6 level, showing the anterior-posterior distance of 10 mm. Computed tomography of the lumbar spine showed spondylolisthesis between the level 4 and 5. CSF showed high protein concentration (300 mg/dl), whereas normal cell counts. These findings suggested the following two possibilities; cervical myelopathy associated with the disturbance of the cauda equina due to lumbar spondylolisthesis, or the disturbance at the lower thoracic or upper lumbar level of spinal cord. The spinal MRI revealed the irregular mass lesion in the lower spinal cord at the level of spine Th 11-12 on T2 weighted images, with enhancement by Gd-DTPA on T1 weighted images. These MRI findings suggested the intradural extramedullary tumor, such as benign neurinoma or meningioma. No clear cut lesions were found at the cervical spinal cord or at the cauda equina. MRI was useful for the diagnosis of sites and lesions of spinal cord in the present case, whose neurological signs and symptoms could be explained by the coexistent cervical spondylosis and lumbar spondylolisthesis.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Lower urinary tract dysfunctions in patients with spinal cord tumors.

AIMS: The objective of this study was to elucidate the incidence and pathophysiology of lower urinary tract dysfunctions (LUTS) in patients with spinal cord tumors. METHODS: Urinary questionnaire and urodynamic studies were done in 76 patients with spinal cord tumors. RESULTS: The patients included 56 with cervical-thoracic (C1 to T11) and 20 with lumbosacral tumors. The lumbosacral tumors consisted of 12 epiconus/conus medullaris (below T11) and 8 cauda equina tumors. These tumors were further subdivided into intramedullary, intradural extramedullary, and dumbbell-type. More than 83% of the patients had urinary symptoms. Patients with cervical-thoracic tumors commonly had voiding symptoms (75%). Detrusor hyperreflexia (39%), and detrusor areflexia on voiding (21%) were the main urodynamic features. Patients with epiconus/conus medullaris tumors commonly had voiding symptoms as well (58%), but decreased urge to void (50%), detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia (42%), and detrusor areflexia on voiding (32%) were the main features. Patients with cauda equina tumors commonly had storage symptoms (88%), of which sensory urgency was most common (63%). Severe LUTS occurred in the epiconus/conus medullaris tumors and in the intramedullary tumors. These dysfunctions tended to appear late and rarely appeared as the initial symptom in the course of the disease. There was no significant relationship between neurologic abnormalities and LUTS. Urodynamics showed that spinal cord tumors cause a variety of LUTS, depending on the location and the type of the tumor. CONCLUSION: Spinal cord tumors are commonly accompanied by LUTS. Clinical and urodynamic evaluation is crucial to diagnosis and management since there is little relationship between symptoms and findings.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1989

[Organization and management of a department for patients with paraplegia. Patient clientele during the first 2 years].

Since January 1st 1985 seven, later only four, beds in the neurosurgical department, Rigshospitalet, were used to care for the problems associated with spinal cord or cauda equina damage. In the first two years, 21 women and 95 men aged 15 to 75 were treated in collaboration with an out-patient clinic and a rehabilitation hospital for patients with spinal cord injuries. Forty-five were admitted in the acute phase. Unstable fractures/dislocations were treated with spondylodesis in 22. General principles of management included intermittent catheterization, turning every 2-3 hours and anticoagulation therapy. Spinal stability was obtained in all cases submitted to operation. Incomplete lesions from medullary cone or cauda equina improved substantially, while complete spinal cord lesions remained so (in 27 patients). Next to urinary infection and concretions decubitus was the most frequent reason for admission in later phases in the remaining 71 patients 6 months to 40 years after the injury. Comprehensive, specialized care for patients with para- or tetraplegia in the acute phase and also in later phases can reduce the number of complications and the economic costs, encourage research work and reduce insecurity for the patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Local application of disc-related cytokines on spinal nerve roots.

STUDY DESIGN: To analyze the effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, and interferon-gamma on cauda equina function and to define if any of these cytokines could induce nerve root dysfunction comparable with the situation with application of nucleus pulposus. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Proinflammatory cytokines derived from the intervertebral disc have been suggested to mediate the nucleus pulposus-induced nerve root injury following local application of nucleus pulposus. However, it is not known if such cytokines may induce similar injury if applied separately. METHODS: A total of 29 pigs were used. Nucleus pulposus was harvested from lumbar discs and applied to the sacrococcygeal cauda equina following laminectomy of the first coccygeal vertebra in seven pigs. Five pigs received 1.66 microg of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, five pigs received 0.85 microg of interleukin-1beta, and five pigs received 1.66 microg of interferon-gamma. Seven pigs received autologous fat for control. Nerve conduction velocity was studied by local electrical stimulation and recordings in the tail muscles 7 days after the application. RESULTS: Application of nucleus pulposus and fat induced similar effects as seen in previous studies, with normal nerve conduction velocity for fat and a significant reduction for nucleus pulposus. Application of both interleukin-1beta and IFN-gamma induced slight reductions of nerve conduction velocity compared with fat, but they were not statistically significant. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, however, induced a reduction of the velocity that was even more pronounced than for nucleus pulposus. CONCLUSION: Based on previous observations and the data of the present study, one may conclude that tumor necrosis factor-alpha from nucleus pulposus cells seems to be intimately involved with the basic pathophysiologic events leading to both nerve root dysfunction and pain after local, epidural application of nucleus pulposus. One may therefore also suspect that pharmacologic inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-alpha may at least theoretically be considered in the clinical situation with disc herniation and sciatica.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed1994

Prognostic factors in anterior decompression for metastatic cord compression. An analysis of results.

During the 10-year period 1981-1990, 59 patients suffering from spinal cord or cauda equina compression underwent anterior spinal decompression and in most cases spinal restabilization with methylmethacrylate cement and/or instrumentation. Follow-up in 55 patients showed that 75% were improved neurologically by the procedure, one-third of these showing complete recovery from the spinal cord compression. The results in younger female patients suffering from metastatic breast cancer were considerably better than those of older men with prostatic metastases. Other genitourinary system tumors also had a relatively poorer prognosis. There was a significantly better result for metastatic lesions of the thoracic or thoracolumbar spine than for lesions in the lumbar spine causing cauda equina paralysis.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Surgical treatment of dysplastic spondylolisthesis. Results after in situ fusion.

STUDY DESIGN: Fourteen patients who had symptomatic dysplastic spondylolisthesis with an intact pars interarticularis underwent posterolateral spinal fusion. Patients initially had low back pain, tight hamstrings, and limited forward bending. In addition, four patients had signs of progressive cauda equina or nerve root impingement. In 10 patients (71%), preoperative degree of slippage was more than 50% (mean, 72%). METHODS: Ten patients underwent in situ posterolateral spinal fusion, and four patients with progressive neurologic symptoms had posterior decompression followed by in situ posterolateral spinal fusion. RESULTS: All patients had solid fusion at last follow-up. A pseudoarthrosis developed in one patient, which healed after a second operation. Roentgenographic progression of the slip after fusion was rare. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that for dysplastic spondylolisthesis in children and adolescents, in situ posterolateral spine fusion yields satisfactory results. In addition, in the presence of progressive cauda equina or nerve root impingement, posterior decompression may be necessary.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Lumbar spine stenosis: a common cause of back and leg pain.

Lumbar spine stenosis most commonly affects the middle-aged and elderly population. Entrapment of the cauda equina roots by hypertrophy of the osseous and soft tissue structures surrounding the lumbar spinal canal is often associated with incapacitating pain in the back and lower extremities, difficulty ambulating, leg paresthesias and weakness and, in severe cases, bowel or bladder disturbances. The characteristic syndrome associated with lumbar stenosis is termed neurogenic intermittent claudication. This condition must be differentiated from true claudication, which is caused by atherosclerosis of the pelvofemoral vessels. Although many conditions may be associated with lumbar canal stenosis, most cases are idiopathic. Imaging of the lumbar spine performed with computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging often demonstrates narrowing of the lumbar canal with compression of the cauda equina nerve roots by thickened posterior vertebral elements, facet joints, marginal osteophytes or soft tissue structures such as the ligamentum flavum or herniated discs. Treatment for symptomatic lumbar stenosis is usually surgical decompression. Medical treatment alternatives, such as bed rest, pain management and physical therapy, should be reserved for use in debilitated patients or patients whose surgical risk is prohibitive as a result of concomitant medical conditions.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Lumbar spinal stenosis. Radiographic diagnosis with special reference to transverse axial tomography.

Spinal stenosis due to malalignment and/or hypertrophy of the bony margins of the spinal canal is a recognized cause of cauda equina compression and nerve root entrapment. The plain lumbosacral spine roentgenograms reveal the number of lumbar vertebrae, their alignment, their interpedicular distances, the height of the intervertebral disk spaces and the presence of osteophyte formation. It correlates poorly with encroachment on the spinal canal. The transverse axial tomogram directly demonstrates a cross-section of the spinal canal and will show abnormal areas of bone encroachment usually arising from hypertrophied lamina and articular processes. These narrow the posterior portion of the spinal canal and encroach on the lateral recesses. This examination does not demonstrate soft tissue hypertrophy and the stenosis may be even greater than what is apparent due to the bony encroachment. The myelogram expresses how the narrowed spinal canal affects the dural sac and its contained cauda equina. Not infrequently there is an associated herniated disk.

Constriction, Pathologic↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Epidural hematoma secondary to a rupture of a synovial cyst.

BACKGROUND CONTENT: With modern advances in imaging studies, synovial cysts are becoming more evident as a common component of erosive lumbar degenerative disc disease causing spinal stenosis and radiculopathy. Whereas hemorrhage can occur inside the cyst and is reported, rupture causing epidural hematoma is a rare complication and finding of this disorder. PURPOSE: To report a rare clinical presentation of a synovial cyst and spinal stenosis, where rupture of the cyst leads to an early cauda equina syndrome. STUDY DESIGN: Case report with a review of literature. METHODS: Clinical history, physical findings, and magnetic resonance imaging studies of a patient with an intraspinal synovial cyst at L4-5 1 week before a sudden worsening of symptoms are reported. RESULTS: A case report is presented of a male with a known synovial cyst at L4-5, presenting initially with neurogenic claudication. This patient developed sudden worsening of symptoms with bilateral lower extremity pain, weakness, and radiculopathy with difficult voiding. The patient had developed an epidural hematoma, secondary to rupture of a synovial cyst, documented at surgical decompression. CONCLUSIONS: Although synovial cyst associated with erosive facet and erosive degenerative disc disease are common, rupture of the cyst is not. A case report of a ruptured synovial cyst leading to an early cauda equina syndrome is presented. This case illustrates the spectrum of clinical features and presentations possible with spinal stenosis complicated by lumbar synovial cyst formation.

Aged↗

PubMed1994

Treatment of L5-S1 spondyloptosis by staged L5 resection with reduction and fusion of L4 onto S1 (Gaines procedure).

STUDY DESIGN AND OBJECTIVES: A retrospective study was performed on the two-stage Gaines procedure for the treatment of spondyloptosis, evaluating indications, techniques, results, and patient satisfaction. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Sixteen consecutive patients from two institutions were included. Their average age was 24 years. Average follow-up was 3.9 years, with 11 patients included in follow-up 2 or more years. Ten patients (63%) had a preoperative neurologic deficit--three with cauda equina syndrome, one with foot drop. All patients had severe back or radicular symptoms and significant disability or severe deformity. METHODS: Patient examinations, interviews, chart review, and radiographic measurements all were performed independently. A subjective questionnaire was administered to each patient comparing preoperative with postoperative changes in pain, function, and appearance, as well as their overall outcome assessment. RESULTS: Postoperatively, 12 patients (75%) had early neurologic deficits, with seven of these having had a preoperative deficit. Four of these seven had a persistent deficit at follow-up, one with a permanent foot drop and three with documented weakness that was still improving at follow-up. The patient with preoperative foot drop remained unchanged, and the remaining seven patients with early deficit all recovered within 1 year. All three patients with preoperative cauda equina syndrome recovered postoperatively. The subjective questionnaire results revealed extremely high patient satisfaction. They reported significant improvement in pain, function, and appearance. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the relatively high complication rate, with appropriate patient selection, planning, and surgical technique, this procedure appears to be a sound method for treating severe cases of spondyloptosis, yielding very high patient satisfaction.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Is lumbar spondylosis a cause of urinary retention in elderly women?

OBJECTIVES: Lumbar spondylosis (LS) is a common spinal degenerative disorder which causes various types of lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD). However, it is not certain whether LS may cause urinary retention in elderly women. METHODS: In a period covering the past 3 years, we retrospectively reviewed: a) urodynamic case records of women with urinary retention (post-void residuals, PVR > 100 ml), b) the records of women with LUTD due to LS (cauda equina syndrome and spinal canal narrowing by MRI), and c) uro-neurological features of women who belonged to both a) and b). RESULTS: a) One-hundred women with a mean age of 58 years had urinary retention. The most common underlying disease was multiple system atrophy [19], followed by multiple sclerosis [13] and cervical/thoracic tumours [8]. LS was the fourth most common [5], with the highest age (71 years) of all diseases. b) Nineteen women with LUTD had LS (12, canal narrowing of 50-70%; 7 > 70 %), with a mean PVR volume of 60 ml. A fourth [5] of them had urinary retention, with severe spinal canal narrowing (all 5 > 70%). c) Thus, 5 women belonged to both a) and b). In 4 of these women, LUTD followed or occurred together with typical cauda equina syndrome symptoms such as sciatica and saddle anesthesia. However, one elderly woman presented with painless urinary retention, and absent ankle reflexes were the sole neurological abnormality. The urodynamic abnormalities underlying urinary retention included an underactive detrusor in all 5, bladder sensory impairment in 3, an unrelaxing sphincter in 2, a low compliance detrusor in one, neurogenic sphincter motor unit potentials in 2 of 4 studied, and cholinergic supersensitivity of the detrusor in one of 3 studied. Surgical decompression ameliorated urinary retention in 1 of 2 women who had surgery. CONCLUSIONS: In our series, only 5 percent of the women with urinary retention had LS, but LS poses a potential risk for retention, particularly in elderly women with severe spinal canal narrowing. Preganglionic somato-autonomic dysfunctions underlie this condition. It may appear as the sole initial complaint in cases in which no other obvious neurological abnormalities are found.

Aged↗