Cauda Equina Syndrome OSCE - Back Pain - Clinical History Taking - Dr Gill

Cauda Equina Syndrome - Back Pain - Clinical History Taking - Dr Gill

Cauda Equina syndrome is one of the most significant spinal emergencies. Whilst here we're not dealing with a compression to the cord, we're dealing with a compression of the nerves after the termination of the cord.

It's very, very important to appreciate the red flags with regard to coquina syndrome, particularly bilateral pain, leg weakness, bladder problems, bowel problems, and numbness

In this video, we will go through the clinical history taking for Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is a serious spinal emergency caused by compression of the nerve roots in the cauda equina below the termination of the spinal cord. Recognising the symptoms and red flags of cauda equina syndrome is essential for medical students, doctors and other healthcare professionals assessing a patient with acute or severe back pain.

In this video, Dr Gill demonstrates a clinical history-taking OSCE with a patient presenting with symptoms suggestive of cauda equina syndrome. The video is designed to help medical students practise their history-taking skills and help doctors and clinicians revise the key clinical features and red flags of cauda equina syndrome.

Cauda equina syndrome: important red flags
When taking a history from a patient with back pain, it is important to ask specifically about symptoms that may indicate cauda equina syndrome, including:
Bilateral leg pain or sciatica
Leg weakness or difficulty walking
Numbness or altered sensation, particularly in the saddle/perineal area
Bladder dysfunction, including difficulty passing urine, urinary retention or loss of bladder control
Bowel dysfunction, including loss of bowel control
Saddle anaesthesia
Changes in sexual function
These symptoms require urgent clinical assessment, as cauda equina syndrome can result in permanent neurological disability if significant nerve compression is not treated promptly.
History taking for cauda equina syndrome
This clinical history-taking video is particularly useful for:
Medical students preparing for OSCEs and clinical examinations
Students practising a back pain history
Doctors revising cauda equina syndrome
Healthcare professionals revising neurological red flags
Anyone learning how to assess a patient with suspected cauda equina syndrome
The video focuses on the clinical history rather than providing a comprehensive discussion of diagnosis or management. In real clinical practice, suspected cauda equina syndrome requires urgent assessment according to local clinical pathways.
Key topics: cauda equina syndrome, CES, back pain, clinical history taking, history of presenting complaint, neurological symptoms, bilateral sciatica, leg weakness, bladder symptoms, bowel symptoms, saddle anaesthesia, urinary retention, spinal emergency, red flags for back pain, OSCE history taking, medical student revision.

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