Conus Medullaris Syndrome Definition, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Conus medullaris is the end part of nerves originating from spinal cord. It is present near the 1st two lumbar sections of vertebrae. It ends in another region named cauda equina. Cauda equina is full of spinal nerves and nerve roots. So according to the above anatomy, conus medullaris and cauda equina are inter related. Conus medullaris is considered a secondary form of damage in spinal cord which occurs as a result of  injury in lumbar vertebrae. So conus medullaris is defined as partial or incomplete injury in spinal cord. The chances of paralysis are less in conus medullaris syndrome as compare to other spinal cord injuries.

Patients with conus medullaris syndrome complain about severe back pain, sexual dysfunction, bladder dysfunction and bowel dysfunction. Patient feels weakness, numbness, and tingling in lower limbs. Conus medullaris syndrome is not a disease itself but occurs as a result of injury in spinal cord. Injury or trauma may occur due to any disease or accident. There are different possible causes behind spinal cord injury and treatment is designed according to these possible causes. Treatment selection also depends on extent of spinal injury.  Other than cause consideration, spinal surgery is recommended in most cases.

Conus Medullaris Syndrome Definition, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Conus Medullaris Syndrome Symptoms

In rare cases of conus medullaris, paralysis occurs in half part of body. Other than this patient complains about severe back pain,  some strange sensations in back bone, dysfunctioning of bowel and bladder, patient faces difficulty while fecal discharge and abnormal sexual functioning. Other symptoms involve lower limbs of patient i.e. weakness and tingling occurs in lower limbs. Sometimes numbness occurs in lower part of legs. Patient can't move willingly. He feels itching on skin surface of legs. So, according to the above mentioned symptoms, lower limbs are mainly involved because of paralysis.

Conus Medullaris Syndrome Causes

Conus medullaris syndrome is a product of trauma or injury in spinal cord. A sudden blow or hit to spinal cord can cause conus medullaris syndrome. A car accident or gun shot are rare causes of conus medullaris syndrome. It can also occur as a result of infections in spinal cord. It may be secondary to spinal cord diseases. Spinal stenosis in which malformation of spinal structure occurs can also cause conus medullaris syndrome. Tumor in spinal cord is another leading cause of conus medullaris syndrome. Trauma in conus medullaris can also affect cauda equina because these two are inter related.

Conus Medullaris Syndrome Treatment

The selection of treatment strategy depends upon the cause and extent of syndrome. Surgery is usually recommended in conus medullaris syndrome. Spinal decompression surgery is performed in which the physical hinderence like tumor or bullet remnants are removed. By removing these physical hinderence, spinal functions can be regained. If cancer is the cause, then radiations will help a lot. If infection of spinal cord leads to conus medullaris syndrome then antibiotics are prescribed against infection. Antibiotics may be oral or intravenous according to the severity of syndrome. Physical therapy is also necessary along with medical treatment.
Conus Medullaris Syndrome Definition, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment Conus Medullaris Syndrome Definition, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment Reviewed by Simon Albert on June 30, 2019 Rating: 5
Powered by Blogger.