Cauda Equina Syndrome: Dangerous Spinal Condition Results in Permanent Injuries When Patient Complaints Are Not Taken Seriously

Recent medical malpractice lawsuit results in $2.5 million settlement in Massachusetts 

Medical malpractice attorney Robert M. Higgins recently settled a medical malpractice case involving a woman who suffered permanent injuries from cauda equina syndrome. Despite her symptoms including severe back pain, numbness, and bladder incontinence, two different doctors failed to order an MRI of her spine or refer her to a specialist.

Attorney Higgins who has represented individuals in similar lawsuits, said that, "Unfortunately, failing to diagnose the dangerous spinal condition known as cauda equina syndrome is more common than it should be. It happens when health care providers do not take patient symptoms and complaints as seriously as they should, and misdiagnose their condition as common back pain."

What is cauda equina syndrome?

Medical imaging of a spine showing the spinal condition of caudal equina syndrome.

Cauda equina syndrome is a serious medical emergency involving extreme pressure and swelling of the nerves at the end of the spinal cord. If patients with cauda equina syndrome do not get appropriate treatment, debilitating adverse results can include:

• difficulty walking
• permanent paralysis
• impaired bladder and/or bowel control
• other neurological and physical problems.

"Doctors and members of the healthcare team must accurately and timely diagnose this emergent condition before the nerves become permanently damaged," said Higgins. In this case, the patient's physiatrist dismissed her complaints as lumbar radiculopathy without requesting a consultation or imaging study and scheduled her for steroid injections. A second emergency room doctor also discounted her worrisome symptoms providing her with pain medicine and diagnosing her with sciatica and sending her home. Finally, after a second emergency room visit by ambulance, a new ER physician immediately ordered imaging and made the diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome and referred her to neurosurgery for emergency surgery to relieve the pressure on her nerves.

Read the full trial report here: Failure to Diagnose and Treat Cauda Equina Syndrome.

More Cauda Equina Syndrome Medical Malpractice Settlements

Lubin & Meyer has extensive experience successfully pursuing claims involving cauda equina syndrome, including but not limited to:

• $2 Million Settlement: Delay in Diagnosis of Cauda Equina Syndrome Results in Chronic Urinary Retention and Weakness
• $1 Million Settlement: Hospitalist and Neurosurgeon Failure To Diagnose Cauda Equina
• $1 Million Settlement: Delay of Spinal Surgery Causes Permanent Neurological Injuries Due to Cauda Equina
• $1 Million Settlement: Back Pain, Radiating to Legs Is Attributed to Diabetes, Not Cauda Equina

View our main website at LubinandMeyer.com

Questions about Medical Malpractice?

If you believe you or a loved one was injured due to improper medical care, please contact our law firm to request a free case evaluation. 

Lubin & Meyer attorneys and staff nurses are available to review your case. No fee. No obligation.

We represent individuals and families in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

View our main website at LubinandMeyer.com - Lubin & Meyer PC - New England's Leader in Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Law

Cauda Equina: A Dangerous Outcome When Patient Complaints Are Not Taken Seriously

Lubin & Meyer settled a NH medical malpractice lawsuit this month involving a 50-year-old woman who now suffers from significant weakness of her legs and bowel and bladder incontinence due to a delay in the diagnosis and treatment of cauda equina syndrome.

Attorney Benjamin Novotny who represented the claimant in this lawsuit said that cauda equina syndrome is often misdiagnosed as simple back pain. "It is a big patient safety concern that only arises because health care providers often do not take patient complaints as seriously as they should."

What is cauda equina syndrome?

Cauda equina syndrome is a serious medical emergency involving extreme pressure and swelling of the nerves at the end of the spinal cord. If patients with cauda equina syndrome do not get appropriate treatment, adverse results can include:

• permanent paralysis
• impaired bladder and/or bowel control
• difficulty walking
• other neurological and physical problems.

"Hospitals and care providers must accurately and timely diagnose this condition before the nerves become permanently injured," said Novotny. In this case, the patient's primary care doctor dismissed her complaints as lumbar disc disease and sciatica without requesting a consultation or imaging study and despite repeated complaints of pain, muscle spasms, weakness in the legs with numbness and tingling. She was eventually diagnosed with cauda equina 11 days later, after a visit to St. Joseph's Hospital and a transfer to Lahey Clinic.

Read the full trial report here: Delay in Diagnosis of Cauda Equina.

Lubin & Meyer has extensive experience successfully pursuing claims involving cauda equina syndrome, including but not limited to:

• $1 Million Settlement: Delay of Spinal Surgery causes  permanent neurological injuries due to Cauda Equina
• $1 Million Settlement: Back Pain, Radiating to Legs Is Attributed to Diabetes, Not Cauda Equina

View our main website at LubinandMeyer.com
Lubin & Meyer PC - New England's Leader in Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Law. Attorneys practicing in MA, NH and RI.