| *H&P: Low back or neck pain associated with limb weakness, sensory changes | | *H&P: Low back or neck pain associated with limb weakness, sensory changes |
| *Dx: Sensory level, pain, weakness, numbness, or hyperreflexia below the level of compression, bowel/bladder incontinence and saddle anesthesia with cauda equina. '''Stat MRI'''. Differential includes tumor, disc herniation, osteomyelitis, epidural abscess, aneurysm, epidural/subdural hematoma, fracture | | *Dx: Sensory level, pain, weakness, numbness, or hyperreflexia below the level of compression, bowel/bladder incontinence and saddle anesthesia with cauda equina. '''Stat MRI'''. Differential includes tumor, disc herniation, osteomyelitis, epidural abscess, aneurysm, epidural/subdural hematoma, fracture |
− | *Tx: Based on etiology. Don't give steroids for infection. May need neurosurgical decompression. | + | *Tx: Based on etiology. '''High-dose corticosteroids should be given stat for suspected epidural spinal cord compression.''' Don't give steroids for infection. '''If indicated by MRI results''', consult neurosurgery for decompression. |