The cauda equina—named because it resembles the hairs of a horse’s tail—is a bundle of nerve roots located at the base of your spinal cord. When functioning normally, these nerves allow for sensation in the legs and send signals to your brain when you need to urinate or defecate. However, if a severely herniated disc in the lumbar spine unnaturally compresses these nerves, this can result in what is known as cauda equina syndrome.
This condition can have permanent and debilitating consequences if it is not treated quickly by qualified medical professionals. Unfortunately, as experienced malpractice attorneys know, not every doctor lives up to the standard of care they owe to every patient. If you have suffered preventable harm from this syndrome that you believe stems from your health care provider’s reckless or careless actions, you should discuss your legal options with a Miami cauda equina syndrome malpractice lawyer from Kaire & Heffernan as soon as possible.
The most common cause of cauda equina syndrome is the massive herniation of a disc between the vertebrae in the lowermost section of the spine. However, this syndrome can also stem from other forms of trauma to the lower spine, birth abnormalities, medical emergencies such as spinal hemorrhages and tumors, and occasionally complications during lumbar spine surgery or anesthetization.
Incomplete cauda equina syndrome (CES-I) can cause you to lose the sensation that tells you when you need to urinate or defecate, while complete cauda equina syndrome (CES-R) can cause you to be completely unable to control your bladder or bowels. Other symptoms of cauda equina syndrome include weakness or numbness in the legs, sciatica or other forms of lower back or leg pain, numbness or strange sensations in the back of the legs or inner thighs, and sexual dysfunction. If you have experienced any of these cauda equina syndrome symptoms, a malpractice attorney from our Miami office may be able to help you build a civil claim.
Depending on the circumstances, malpractice can unnecessarily worsen cauda equina syndrome, or it can be the main and direct cause of the syndrome. Legally actionable malpractice might involve:
In the latter scenario, procedural errors made during surgical operations, a lack of communication between various staff members at a hospital, and the administration of too much anesthesia can all potentially serve as grounds for a lawsuit. One of our Miami lawyers can discuss the best path forward for your potential CES-I or CES-R malpractice lawsuit during a confidential consultation.
Any disruption to the normal function of the spinal cord can have widespread and potentially life-altering consequences. Unfortunately, cauda equina syndrome is an uncommon condition that is sometimes difficult to detect, factors that can increase the risk of a medical professional causing you harm by failing to properly diagnose and treat the problem.
Fortunately, an experienced Miami cauda equina syndrome malpractice lawyer could help you seek fair compensation for the losses your doctor’s negligence has caused you. Call Kaire & Heffernan today to learn more.
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