Case study: £1m for Cauda Equina delayed diagnosis claim

Cauda Equina Syndrome is a serious condition that occurs when the nerves at the base of the spine become trapped.

Early diagnosis of Cauda Equina Syndrome is vital. It’s considered to be a surgical emergency and quick treatment of the condition is essential.

A failure to diagnose Cauda Equina can lead to permanent damage to the nerves which serve the bowel and bladder. It can also result in decreased mobility and persistent pain. In fact, just a short delay, even by a day or two, can mean the difference between a full recovery and long-term health problems.

If you’ve suffered due to a delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis of Cauda Equina Syndrome, you may be able to make a medical negligence claim, as this case study demonstrates.

Case study

Mrs T was admitted to hospital after showing signs of Cauda Equina Syndrome and was discharged after examination. However, her symptoms, including pain and an inability to pass urine or faeces persisted. She was readmitted two days later.

This time, she was diagnosed with Cauda Equina and transferred to another hospital for emergency surgery the following day.

Following surgery, our client suffered with considerable and persistent pain in her back and left leg. This pain severely affected her mobility. She also experienced altered perianal sensation as well as bowel and urinary symptoms arising from her treatment.

Delay in diagnosis

The hospital trust admitted that Mrs T suffered some on-going incontinence symptoms as a result of the delay in diagnosis.

However, they denied that Mrs T’s impaired mobility and back pain was due to their failure to diagnose Cauda Equina Syndrome during the first hospital assessment.

Our medical negligence solicitors obtained a number of reports from leading Cauda Equina specialists. All of these specialists confirmed that, in the absence of negligence and on the balance of probabilities, Mrs T would have made a full recovery from her former condition.

The matter settled for £1 million, 18 days before the start of trial.

Further information on making a Cauda Equina claim

For help and information on cauda equina, speak to our medical negligence solicitors in Bristol on 0117 325 2929 or complete our online enquiry form.