ArticleJournal of neurology2018
The clinical features and outcome of scan-negative and scan-positive cases in suspected cauda equina syndrome: a retrospective study of 276 patients.
Article in Journal of neurology, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 62 citations in OpenAlex.
- Cauda equina syndrome: a structured approach for the higher orthopaedic examination.European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie · 2026Review
- An evaluation of individuals who repeatedly present with suspected cauda equina syndrome.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026Article
- Clinical management of a Veteran with chronic scan-negative cauda equina syndrome: a case report.The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association · 2026Article
- Chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy versus physical therapist-led exercise and the risk of cauda equina syndrome in adults with lumbar disc herniation, stenosis, or radiculopathy.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation · 2026Article
- Comorbidities Across Functional Neurological Disorder Subtypes: A Comprehensive Narrative Synthesis.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Understanding Functional Neurological Disorder: Recent Insights and Diagnostic Challenges.International journal of molecular sciences · 2024Review
- Bladder ultrasonography in the assessment of cauda equina syndrome in the emergency department: a literature review.Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England · 2024Review
- Presentation, Diagnosis, and Management of Lower Back Pain Associated with Spinal Stenosis: A Narrative Review.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2023Review
- Presentation, management, and outcomes of cauda equina syndrome up to one year after surgery, using clinician and participant reporting: A multi-centre prospective cohort study.The Lancet regional health. Europe · 2023Article
- Neurosarcoidosis of the Cauda Equina: Clinical Course, Radiographic and Electrodiagnostic Findings, Response to Treatment, and Outcomes.Neurology(R) neuroimmunology & neuroinflammation · 2022Article
- Demographics of Cauda Equina Syndrome: A Population-Based Incidence Study.Neuroepidemiology · 2022Article
- Suspected cauda equina syndrome: no reduction in investigation, referral and treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England · 2021Article
- Review
- A practical review of functional neurological disorder (FND) for the general physician.Clinical medicine (London, England) · 2021Review
- Article
- Incidence and long-term patient reported outcome measures of patients with radiological cauda equina compression but without clinical features of cauda equina syndrome.Journal of craniovertebral junction & spineArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe majority of patients presenting with suspected clinical cauda equina syndrome (CES) have no identifiable structural cause for their symptoms ('scan-negative' CES). Understanding these patients aids clinical differentiation and management in CES.
methodsA retrospective electronic note review was undertaken of patients presenting with suspected CES, defined as ≥ 1 of acute bladder, bowel, sexual dysfunction or saddle numbness, to a regional neurosciences centre. We investigated radiology, clinical features, psychiatric and functional disorder comorbidities and outcome of patients with 'scan-negative' CES and patients with MRI confirmed compression of the cauda equina ('scan-positive' CES).
results276 patients were seen over 16 months. There were three main radiologically defined patient groups: (1) 'scan-positive' CES (n = 78, mean age 48 years, 56% female), (2) 'scan-negative' CES without central canal stenosis but with lumbosacral nerve root compression not explaining the clinical presentation (n = 87, mean age 43 years, 68% female) and (3) 'scan-negative' CES without neural compromise (n = 104, mean age 42 years, 70% female). In the two 'scan-negative' groups (no neural compromise and nerve root compression), there were higher rates of functional disorders (37% and 29% vs. 9%), functional neurological disorders (12% and 11% vs 0%) and psychiatric comorbidity (53% and 40% vs 20%). On follow-up (mean 13-16 months), only 1 of the 191 patients with 'scan-negative' CES was diagnosed with an explanatory neurological disorder (transverse myelitis).
conclusionsThe data support a model in which scan-negative cauda equina syndrome arises as an end pathway of acute pain, sometimes with partly structural findings and vulnerability to functional disorders.
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