Michigan Cauda Equina Syndrome

Patient Getting MRI Scan For Cauda Equina Syndrome Our medical malpractice attorneys frequently represent clients who suffer from spinal cord and nerve injuries.  Recently, we have tried and won several cases involving malpractice and cauda equina syndrome.  This is an extremely dangerous condition and usually requires emergency surgery simply to prevent permanent injuries and more complications.

When medical malpractice or negligence occurs during a procedure involving cauda equina syndrome, the consequences can include permanent disability or some other life-changing issue.  The medical effects should not be taken lightly or minimized.  Your life may never be the same after this event and you should not suffer financially because of a doctor’s malpractice.

There is a laundry list of medical expenses that you could be facing in the present and the future.  On top of immediate surgery costs, you will most likely face long-term care and long-term visits to a physical therapist.  If you’ve suffered severe complications due to a misdiagnosed or delayed Cauda Equina Syndrome diagnosis, an experienced medical malpractice attorney in Michigan can help you pursue compensation and hold negligent healthcare providers accountable.

What is Cauda Equina Syndrome?

It is a rare compression of the nerves near the end of your spinal cord inside of the spinal canal.  The name “Cauda Equina” is of Latin origin and literally means tail of the horse.  It refers to the end of spinal cord in the low back where it splits into many nerve tracts which resemble a horse’s tail.  Compression of the spinal nerves in this area can lead to numerous conditions, but the most typical include low back pain, sciatica, bladder incontinence, bowel incontinence, sensory changes, and even lower extremity paralysis.

Facts About Cauda Equina Syndrome

  • It can be caused by just about any condition that ends up directly irritating or pinching the nerves in the lower spine.
  • It is a medical emergency that usually requires immediate decompression surgery
  • Symptoms of Cauda Equina Syndrome include lower back pain, legs that are weak, numbness or tingling in the butt and lower legs and incontinence.
  • The future for patients who have CES is determined by the amount of damage that has occurred to the existing tissue of the nerves.

What Are The Most Common Causes for Cauda Equina Syndrome?

Cauda Equina can be caused in many ways, but they all result in pressure or pinching of the nerves at the end of the spinal cord.  The most common causes include:

  • A severely herniated or ruptured disk in the lower spinal cord.
  • Spinal Canal narrowing.
  • A lesion or tumor in the spine.
  • Spinal infection.
  • Spinal Fracture.
  • Birth defects such as arteriovenous malformation.

How Can I Prove My Cauda Equina Lawsuit Claim?

In many instances, the long-term medical effects and disability because of CES should have been avoided completely.  If you are currently suffering from Cauda Equina Syndrome because of medical malpractice, you should contact an attorney with knowledge of these cases to receive financial compensation!  You will need to prove the following in a typical CES Claim :

  • Failure to note condition of the patient getting worse over time
  • Failure to perform the proper diagnostic tests
  • Failure to find symptoms that could indicate CES is present
  • Failure to complete a patient evaluation
  • Failure to diagnose CES in a timely manner
  • Failure to begin treatment in a timely manner

A simple diagnostic test such as a CAT Scan or MRI will usually show the cause and presence of CES.  Many times, doctors are “too busy” or they simply overlook the importance of quick decision making so they schedule the test days or weeks into the future when it needs to be done NOW!  When medical professionals fail to do their jobs responsibly in a CES situation, serious medical complication arise often.  Without the proper quick diagnosis and treatment of CES, a person can be left with a lifetime of suffering from permanent bowel and bladder incontinence.

Expert Witnesses and Cauda Equina Syndrome Lawsuits

Testimony from an expert witness is almost always necessary for a successful CES Claim.  This is a complicated medical condition with complicated medical procedures.  You and the expert witness will need to show the medical staff failed to diagnose and/or treat the CES condition.  It is critical that expert testimony shows that emergency surgery is required and that surgery within hours of the diagnosis is the absolute best chance for avoiding long-term neurological disabilities.

How Can Cauda Equina Syndrome Malpractice Occur?

Medical Malpractice is easy to avoid for CES

Actionable malpractice in a cauda equina syndrome is when a medical professional fails to meet the prevailing standard of care by neglecting the possibility of CES in patients showing symptoms or failure to diagnose/treat the condition in a timely manner.  Unfortunately, surgery is often delayed by 48 hours or more after the initial symptoms have been discovered.  This delay in surgery is very often the key issue in a CES case.  Another typical malpractice is the failure to perform an extensive evaluation to determine if Cauda Equina Syndrome after finding symptoms that are typical of CES.  Some of these symptoms include difficulty urination, leg weakness, and shooting pains in lower extremities.

Seeking an Attorney in Michigan For Cauda Equina Syndrome

You are probably overwhelmed with the prospect of your future and your building medical costs looming over you.  By hiring The Clark Law Office, our experienced Cauda Equina Medical Malpractice Attorneys can take the stress of your shoulders and you can focus on your recovery.  We will fight to make sure you get the financial compensation that you deserve for your suffering.

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