Cauda equina syndrome (CES) can be associated with chronic severe lower back pain and long-term autonomic dysfunction. This study assesses the recently defined core outcome set for CES in a cohort of patients using validated questionnaires. Between January 2005 and December 2019, 82 patients underwent surgical decompression for acute CES secondary to massive lumbar disc prolapse at our hospital. After review of their records, patients were included if they presented with the clinical and radiological features of CES, then classified as CES incomplete (CESI) or with painless urinary retention (CESR) in accordance with guidelines published by the British Association of Spinal Surgeons. Patients provided written consent and completed a series of questionnaires.Aims
Methods
Prospective data on 6905 consecutive hip fracture
patients at a district general hospital were analysed to identify the
risk factors for the development of deep infection post-operatively.
The main outcome measure was infection beneath the fascia lata. A total of 50 patients (0.7%) had deep infection. Operations
by consultants or a specialist hip fracture surgeon had half the
rate of deep infection compared with junior grades (p = 0.01). Increased
duration of anaesthesia was significantly associated with deep infection
(p = 0.01). The method of fracture fixation was also significant. Intracapsular
fractures treated with a hemiarthroplasty had seven times the rate
of deep infection compared with those treated by internal fixation
(p = 0.001). Extracapsular fractures treated with an extramedullary
device had a deep infection rate of 0.78% compared with 0% for those
treated with intramedullary devices (p = 0.02). The management of hip fracture patients by a specialist hip fracture
surgeon using appropriate fixation could significantly reduce the
rate of deep infection and associated morbidity, along with extended
hospitalisation and associated costs.
