Resection of Cauda Equina Tumors Manhattan
Resection of Cauda Equina Tumors in Manhattan is a significant part of the work of any spine surgeon, and one which most people have never heard of.
The spinal cord itself finishes by approximately the level of the second lumbar vertebra (in the back, opposite to the navel). The Cauda Equina (which translates from Latin as “horse’s tail”) is a bundle of eleven pairs of spinal nerves and nerve roots at the base of the spinal cord, and these extend down into the coccyx (tailbone). These nerves supply the pelvic organs, anus, urethra, bladder, and lower legs.
Cauda Equina Syndrome is a medical emergency whereby the nerve roots are compressed. This can cause permanent damage to bladder and bowel control, sexual function, and paralysis. In most cases, Cauda Equina Syndrome is the result of massive lumbar disc herniation. It can also be the result of a Cauda Equina Tumor.