Abstract

OLAZABAL ARMAS, Isael  and  PEREIRA JIMENEZ, Katia. Horse-tail syndrome secondary to traumatic disc herniation. Rev Cubana Med Gen Integr [online]. 2012, vol.28, n.3, pp. 326-330. ISSN 0864-2125.

Horse-tail represents the caudal continuation of the spinal cord. This portion of the nervous system is the seat of numerous pathologies. We present a case report of acute debuted with a syndrome of the cauda equina, secondary to traumatic lumbar disc herniation. This is a male patient aged 45, who was admitted to the emergency room because he referred acute and progressive symptoms starting seven days before, after falling from three meters high. By questioning, we found muscle weakness in his left leg and difficulty at walking. The physical examination confirmed the decrease in muscle strength and Achilles-plantar areflexia. We performed MRI, which showed extruded disc herniation in L5-S1 interspace. The patient was taken to the emergency room and we performed the hernia excision. He was discharged at the seventh day with mild clinical improvement. We have continued the follow up as outpatient for a period of eight months. There is very little recovery of sphincter control, motor and sensory activity.

Keywords : ponytail; traumatic disc herniation; nerve root compression; sphincter disorders.

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