Conus Medullaris Syndrome
DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN
Conus Medullaris Syndrome and Cauda equina syndrome
| Conus Medullaris Syndrome | Cauda equina syndrome | |
| Onset/Presentation | Sudden Onset symptoms | Develops over time |
| Symmetry | More symmetrical | More asymmetrical |
| Pain | Mild to moderate | Severe pain |
| Cause | Injury, lesion, or infection | Lesion, or infection |
| Reflex | Typically only interferes with the Achilles reflex | Eliminate the patellar and Achilles reflexes |
| Pain concentrated in the lower back | More likely | Less likely |
| Site involved – Spinal cord Levels | T12-L2. | L1-L5 |
| Impotence | More common | Less common |
Cauda equina and conus medullaris syndromes have overlap in anatomy and clinical presentation.
The gold standard method of evaluation for CMS/CES is obtaining urgent MRI imaging with sagittal and axial T1 and T2 sequences.
