İsmail AKÇİN, Bilal ERTUĞRUL, Cengiz ŞANLI
Journal of Emergency Medicine Case Reports - 2026;17(2):51-53
While back pain is common during pregnancy, cauda equina syndrome (CES), which can develop from lumbar disc herniation (LDH), is a rare but urgent complication that requires immediate intervention. There is an increase in the prevalence of these complaints with the changing anatomical and physiological balance during pregnancy. Although there are many factors in the etiology of low back pain, LDH can be dangerous during pregnancy. This disease, which can lead to the development of CES, should be recognised early and treated effectively. Our case involves a 36-year-old patient who developed CES at 37 weeks and 2 days of pregnancy. The patient, with no prior history of LDH, presented with two days of back and right leg pain. Neurological examination confirmed the development of CES, which is a medical emergency. Based on this case, the pathophysiological processes involved in the development of CES, the patient's clinical presentation, and the multidisciplinary approach that should be implemented are presented from a broad perspective. It emphasizes that a coordinated team approach with an urgent intervention for patients who develop CES independently of pregnancy provides the best outcomes for both the mother and the fetus.
