Conus medullaris syndrome

Changed by Pamela Mayhew, 15 Apr 2016

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Conus medullaris syndromeis caused by and injury or insult to the conus medullaris and lumbar nerve roots. It is a clinical subset of spinal cord injury syndromes. Injuries at the level of T12 to L2 vertebrae are most likely to result in conus medullaris syndrome.

Pathology

The conus medullaris lies in close proximity to nerve roots and injury to this region results in combined upper motor neurone and lower motor neurone features

Conus medullaris injury can result most commonly from:

Clinical presentation

Patients present with a combination of upper and lower motor neurone palsies  and similar features as cauda equina syndrome, which which include:

  • saddle anaesthesia
  • loss of bladder reflex: urinary retention
  • loss of bowel reflex: incontinence 
  • lower limb motor weakness, paraesthesia and numbness
  • chronic lower backache

Treatment and prognosis

The prognosis depends upon patient presentation of patient, early. Early diagnosis and treatment may facilitate improvement in symptoms. Approximately 10% of patient'spatients may regain functional improvement.

  • -<p><strong>Conus medullaris syndrome </strong>is caused by and injury or insult to the <a href="/articles/conus-medullaris">conus medullaris</a> and lumbar nerve roots. It is a clinical subset of <a href="/articles/spinal-cord-injury">spinal cord injury</a> syndromes. Injuries at the level of T12 to L2 vertebrae are most likely to result in conus medullaris syndrome.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>The conus medullaris lies in close proximity to nerve roots and injury to this region results in combined upper motor neurone and lower motor neurone features</p><p>Conus medullaris injury can result most commonly from:</p><ul>
  • +<p><strong>Conus medullaris syndrome </strong>is caused by and injury or insult to the <a href="/articles/conus-medullaris">conus medullaris</a> and lumbar nerve roots. It is a clinical subset of <a href="/articles/spinal-cord-injury">spinal cord injury</a> syndromes. Injuries at the level of T12 to L2 vertebrae are most likely to result in conus medullaris syndrome.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>The conus medullaris lies in close proximity to nerve roots and injury to this region results in combined upper motor neurone and lower motor neurone features</p><p>Conus medullaris injury can result most commonly from:</p><ul>
  • -<li>traumatic <a href="/articles/spondylolysis">spondylolysis</a> and <a href="/articles/spondylolisthesis-1">spondylolisthesis</a>.</li>
  • +<li>traumatic <a href="/articles/spondylolysis">spondylolysis</a> and <a href="/articles/spondylolisthesis-1">spondylolisthesis</a>
  • +</li>
  • -</ul><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Patients present with a combination of upper and lower motor neurone palsies  and similar features as <a href="/articles/cauda-equina-syndrome">cauda equina syndrome</a>, which include:</p><ul>
  • +</ul><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Patients present with a combination of upper and lower motor neurone palsies  and similar features as <a href="/articles/cauda-equina-syndrome">cauda equina syndrome</a> which include:</p><ul>
  • -</ul><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>The prognosis depends upon presentation of patient, early diagnosis and treatment may facilitate improvement in symptoms. Approximately 10% of patient's may regain functional improvement.</p><p> </p>
  • +</ul><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>The prognosis depends upon patient presentation. Early diagnosis and treatment may facilitate improvement in symptoms. Approximately 10% of patients may regain functional improvement.</p><p> </p>

Systems changed:

  • Musculoskeletal

Sections changed:

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