Cauda equina syndrome claims

The cauda equina are a sensitive group of nerves located at the base of the spinal cord involved in lower limb sensation and pelvic function. Cauda equina syndrome is a rare but very serious neurological condition, usually arising from a slipped disc in the spine compressing those delicate nerves. While it should be treated as a medical emergency, many patients receive inadequate care resulting in delayed surgery and permanent neurological damage, which can culminate in the decision to pursue a compensation claim.

Expert legal advice from our cauda equina syndrome claims solicitors

If you believe there has been a delay in diagnosis or treatment, our specialist cauda equina solicitors can advise you. We have considerable experience in bringing negligence claims in this area of medicine. If the nerve compression is not identified quickly and resolved (through surgery to remove the pressure), permanent damage can be caused leading to altered lower body sensation, problems with mobility, and bladder, bowel and sexual dysfunction. The impact of these disabilities is often life-changing.

Because of the speed with which cauda equina syndrome can progress and the short window of opportunity to treat it effectively (generally regarded as up to 48 hours from onset), swift action is critical. However, since it is relatively rare and often preceded by ‘routine’ back pain, it is often missed – with devastating consequences. Symptoms which should prompt urgent action include loss of sensation in the lower limbs, numbness in the buttocks/genital area and difficulties passing urine or with bowel movements.

Most of the cauda equina compensation claims we deal with are a direct result of GPs or A&E doctors failing to recognise these classic red flag signs when they assess patients. Steps to ensure they are referred immediately to the relevant orthopaedic or neurosurgical teams or receive an urgent MRI scan to confirm diagnosis may not be taken. On other occasions those who are identified as being at risk of cauda equina syndrome are discharged from hospital without proper guidance and so are unaware that they should seek advice when signs of cauda equina syndrome develop.

I rate this firm very highly for big, complex and difficult cases which they manage with great skill and dedication.

While no sum of money can compensate for the difficulties patients may face, our cauda equina claims team can help to improve their quality of life by securing damages to cover loss of earnngs, current and future care, equipment and accommodation needs. Our cauda equina solicitors’ initial consultation is offered free of charge and without obligation. Funding options available to clients include no win no fee (conditional fee) agreements.

How we help our clients

Claims against A&E/orthopaedic departments for failing to identify cauda equina syndrome

Claims against hospitals for not transferring patients to appropriate specialist care

Delays in clinical assessments and/or arranging MRI scans for cauda equina syndrome

Cases where GPs/A&E departments fail to ask appropriate questions about symptoms

Cases where out of hours services fail to elicit red flag signs

Claims against GPs for making routine, not urgent, referrals for patients

Delays in arranging transfer/surgery by orthopaedic/neurosurgical teams

Failures to provide red flag advice to patients with back pain

Claims against hospitals for discharging patients with undiagnosed cauda equina syndrome

Useful resources

Making a medical negligence claim

Funding a medical negligence claim

FAQS on cauda equina syndrome claims and compensation for negligent medical care

Cauda equina syndrome claims – video

Medical negligence and cauda equina syndrome fact sheet

They have genuine strength in depth and are really down to earth, committed, and true specialists in their field.

The team were extremely professional and competent and I always felt that my case was in very good hands. Above this, however, I appreciated their kind and sympathetic manner through the process.

First class: professional, friendly, sensitive and ultimately successful! Thank you so much.

I felt that my solicitor was really fighting for what she thought I deserved. She was a great match. Her advice was important to me.

Everyone at Penningtons has always treated me with respect and compassion and done their best to help with my situation. I feel the whole team really have my best interests at heart.

Recent work highlights

£750,000 settlement for surgery delay

Achieving a settlement of £750,000 for a young man with suspected cauda equina syndrome who suffered significant delays in diagnosis and treatment, which left him with symptoms affecting his urinary, bowel and sexual function for life.

Cauda equina signs missed

Settling a case for £750,000 for our client whose symptoms of cauda equina syndrome were not properly investigated in A&E. She subsequently suffered significant permanent nerve damage affecting her urinary and bowel function and limiting her mobility.

Permanent injury after negligent GP care

Obtaining compensation for a man in his 30s left with long-term neurological damage from developing cauda equina syndrome when his GP failed to refer him for a same-day MRI scan which would have prompted emergency decompression surgery.

Settlement of claim for tree surgeon

Representing a tree surgeon who presented at A&E with classic symptoms of cauda equina syndrome which progressed while he was there. He was wrongly discharged and suffered permanent avoidable neurological damage leaving him unable to resume his previous work.

Failure to arrange emergency surgery

Achieving a settlement for a client left with permanent bladder dysfunction after she waited for decompression surgery for cauda equina syndrome for over 48 hours despite being diagnosed and with clear indications that her condition was deteriorating.

Admission of liability in claim for young woman

Securing an admission of liability in a woman’s case against her local hospital for failing to recognise ‘red flag’ symptoms of cauda equina syndrome. The delay in treatment left her with permanent neurological dysfunction in her bladder and lower limbs.

Case studies

We have settled a claim for our client, Mr P, a man in his fifties who had experienced a delay in the diagnosis and treatment of cauda equina syndrome with serious consequences.

We achieved a settlement for a young woman left seriously disabled by failures in her care at Hull Royal Infirmary, which led to a delay in diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome.

We have settled a case on behalf of our client, a man in his 30s, who was left with long-term neurological damage from developing cauda equina syndrome.

We secured a substantial settlement for a man who has been left with long-term bladder, bowel and sexual dysfunction after his local A&E department failed to recognise and respond to signs of cauda equina syndrome.

We agreed the settlement of a claim against St Mary’s Hospital, Isle of Wight, for the alleged failure to appropriately advise our client of ‘red flag’ symptoms of cauda equina syndrome when she was discharged from A&E.

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