Skip to main content

Contact us to arrange your
FREE initial consultation

Call me back Email us
 

Mistakes happen when medical professionals fail to consider rare conditions. Nearly all cauda equina syndrome (CES) claims arise from GPs or (junior) A&E doctors mistaking the patient’s symptoms for more minor conditions, such as back pain. 

What is cauda enquina syndrome?

A patient who complains of severe back pain may have other symptoms, which the doctor must check for to be sure that early warning signs of cauda equina are not missed. These signs and symptoms may include altered feeling in the lower limbs, sexual areas, perineum and anus, and urinary problems such as incontinence, retention and lack of sensation whilst urinating.

Early recognition of cauda equina is essential as, without emergency surgery, permanent disability occurs very quickly after the patient begins having symptoms.

A patient, who is thought to be developing cauda equina syndrome (CES) requires urgent neurosurgical review including an MRI scan of their spine and emergency surgery to release (decompress) the pressure on their spinal cord.

Contact us today

  • No upfront costs & no win, no fee
  • Accredited legal experts
  • Help accessing rehabilitation
  • Free & no obligation initial advice

Call us free 0800 124 4845

Call our specialist legal teams Monday - Friday, 9:00 - 17.30 for free, no obligation advice.

Call us now

Start your claim today

Complete our simple form to start your claim and get a call back back from our expert legal team.

Start your claim
 

Cauda equina syndrome claims frequently asked questions

Cauda equina negligence claims

Cauda equina may be missed when a doctor:

Read more

How much is a cauda equina claim worth?

Each client’s injury and the way it affects them is unique. Their compensation award takes this into account and reflects their individual circumstances. Most of our clients find that their CES disability reduces their independence and ability to carry out daily activities at home and at work.  We work closely with our clients and a team of trusted experts to understand the impact that the injury has had on our client’s life.

Read more

Why use Boyes Turner’s cauda equina lawyers for your claim?

Boyes Turner’s spinal injury specialists have over 30 years’ experience of successfully handling cauda equina syndrome claims. We understand exactly what can and does go wrong and when a claim is likely to succeed. 

Read more

How is negligence proven in cauda equina cases?

As experts in successful cauda equina cases, we know the issues that the court needs to determine, and the information that independent medical experts will need to form their opinions.  The key to winning a cauda equina claim is being able to give the court detailed and accurate evidence of the nature, timing and sequence of our client’s signs and symptoms. We achieve this by:

Read more

Recent cauda equina syndrome cases

£1.33million compensation for a client whose permanent disability from CES was caused by delays in surgical decompression after an our-of-hours GP failed to recognise red flag signs of cauda equina and immediately refer him to hospital.  Interim (advance payments) of £70,000 helped meet our client's urgent needs whilst we pursued his claim. 

£800,000 compensation for a 40-year-old man after his GP failed to examine him and recognise red flag warning signs of cauda equina syndrome (CES). The failure to diagnose CES led to delays in surgical treatment, including a lumbar discectomy and decompression operation. He has permanent bowel and bladder damage, impaired mobility and sexual dysfunction. In addition to his settlement, our client received an admission of liability and letter of apology from the GP.

£400,000 compensation for a woman whose red flag warning signs of cauda equina syndrome were not recognised by her GP or hospital A&E staff. Her condition was finally recognised by a physiotherapist who referred her to a consultant spinal surgeon after our client paid for a private MRI scan. She underwent surgery but had already suffered permanent disability, including bowel and bladder incontinence, loss of sexual sensation, altered sensation around her left perianal region, buttock and left thigh, and psychological injury.

£275,000 compensation for a client with a history of back pain whose GP failed to recognise his red flag signs of cauda equina syndrome and refer him to hospital as a medical emergency. When our client attended A&E three days later, an MRI scan revealed a lumbar disc prolapse with cauda equina. He underwent emergency surgical decompression but was left with permanent disability, including fatigue, leg pain and weakness, and impaired urinary, bowel and sexual function, as a result of the GP’s delay in referring him to hospital.

£250,000 compensation for a client with a history of back pain and surgery, who suffered permanent disability after hospital delays in diagnosis of signs of CES. She was finally referred for emergency spinal surgery after arranging a private appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon via her health insurance. She now has permanent disability from severe pain and numbness in her leg and foot, lack of sensation in the ‘saddle’ area, impaired bowel and bladder control, and a psychological injury.

Get help today
  • No upfront costs & no win, no fee
  • Expert rehabilitation help
  • Free & no obligation initial advice

Meet your specialist team

Our specialist Cauda equina syndrome claims team are considered leaders in the field and have a significant amount of expertise.
Susan Brown photo

Susan Brown

Partner

Julie Marsh headshot

Julie Marsh

Partner

Richard Money-Kyrle headshot

Richard Money-Kyrle

Partner

Sita Soni headshot

Sita Soni

Senior Associate - solicitor

Vanessa Wand photo

Vanessa Wand

Senior associate - solicitor

Tara Byrne photo

Tara Byrne

Associate - Solicitor

Rachel Makore headshot

Rachel Makore

Associate - solicitor

Alpa Rana headshot

Alpa Rana

Associate - solicitor

Fran Rothwell

Fran Rothwell

Associate solicitor

Ben Ireland headshot

Ben Ireland

Solicitor

Alice Carley headshot

Alice Carley

Paralegal

Audrey Elmore headshot

Audrey Elmore

Medical records coordinator

Nicky Melville headshot

Nicky Melville

Professional support assistant

Susan Brown photo
Julie Marsh headshot
Richard Money-Kyrle headshot
Sita Soni headshot
Vanessa Wand photo
Tara Byrne photo
Rachel Makore headshot
Alpa Rana headshot
Fran Rothwell
Ben Ireland headshot
Alice Carley headshot
Audrey Elmore headshot
Nicky Melville headshot

Related news

Related cases

What is cauda equina syndrome (CES)?

What are the symptoms of cauda equina syndrome?

Why is cauda equina syndrome a medical emergency?

What causes cauda equina syndrome?

Can the condition be reversed?

How can you prove cauda equina syndrome was treated negligently?

What is a medical negligence claim?

Who can make a medical negligence claim?

Can I claim against the NHS?

Will I need to go to court to claim medical negligence compensation?

How much compensation can you get for medical negligence?

What can medical negligence compensation pay for?

How to fund a medical negligence claim?

Will I need a medical examination if I make a medical negligence claim for compensation?

What are the time limits for making a medical negligence claim?

Can I make a claim on behalf of a child?

How to make a medical negligence claim?

How long do medical negligence claims take?

How will medical negligence compensation be paid?

What is causation in medical negligence claims?

How can you prove medical negligence?

Cauda equina cases

View all

Awards & accreditations

Our medical negligence and personal injury teams have been nationally recognised for over 20 years because of their expertise, empathy and commitment to securing maximum compensation for our clients.

              Brake | The Road Safety Charity

What our clients say

"Honest, approachable and truly empathetic"

What has to be some of the most testing horrible times was dealt with in a dignified, honest, approachable and truly empathetic manner. I could not begin to do Susan justice for her handling of our case.

Boyes Turner Client

"they kept us fully informed "

I approached Boyes Turner after my claim was turned down by one of the Medical Negligence Claim company. My wife was a victim of medical negligence.

Boyes Turner have acted so efficiently on our behalf and was able to win our case. Anytime we contact them, their customer service was very good as they kept us fully informed of every level our case has developed. They are very friendly and approachable and great in their professional advise. I would strongly recommend anyone approach them for their legal and medical negligence services.

Boyes Turner Client

"Thoroughly professional, knowledgable and approachable"

Thoroughly professional, knowledgable and approachable with communication and updates as and when needed, in what can be a drawn out process, I was always comfortable asking questions and always received answers which were clear and understandable. Highly recommend

Boyes Turner Client

"Amazing professional firm"

I came to Boyes Turner desperate after searching the web for a firm to use for my sons case. He was only a few months so my mind was all over the place, but from the very first point of contact I felt a sense of relieve and belonging. I was welcomed and looked after by amazing staff who always communicated everything so well and went the extra mile to explain things and ensure I understood what was happening every step of the way (THANK YOU SUSAN BROWN). Susan was amazing I felt like I not only had a solicitor but someone who understood my emotions as a mother and always handled me with so much compassion and that was all I needed to keep me going for the 6 years of the case. Years went by in a breeze because of how professional Boyes Turner was. I am so greatful I went through it all with them and mananged to get my son a good compensation. We look forward our new life where my sons needs are priority after struggling for so long. Thank you Boyes Turner and thank you Susan Brown. My family and I are ever indebted.

Boyes Turner Client

"I couldn’t fault them they have been brilliant throughout the whole process"

From the moment I picked up the phone and spoke to Richard Money-Kyrle I knew I had done the right thing by choosing Boyes Turner to take our claim forward and to represent my son. Both Richard Money-Kyrle and Alpa Rana have worked on our case and they both have been amazing throughout, explaining every step of the way and anything we didn’t understand and keeping me updated constantly. This gave me and my family a lot of reassurance.

Both Richard and Alpa are friendly and gained my trust and have been really easy to talk to which has made the process a whole lot easier and smoother than anticipated.
The outcome of the claim was far more than I could have wished for and that was down to their hard work and expertise

I couldn’t fault them they have been brilliant throughout the whole process I would recommend Boyes Turner to anyone.

Boyes Turner Client
Rated Excellent 4.8/5