Introduction: Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is a dreaded complication of lumbar disc herniations, requiring rapid surgical management. The few studies conducted in low-income countries note a failure to meet this requirement. We conducted this study to describe the management of patients operated on for this condition in the neurosurgery department of the Brazzaville University Hospital. Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study conducted between January 2022 and December 2025, involving 16 patients operated on for CES due to disc herniation, confirmed by imaging (CT or MRI). Pre- and postoperative severity was assessed using the SSCES (Scoring System for Cauda Equina Syndrome). Patients were followed up at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. Results: The mean age was 48.2 years (range 39-68), with a sex ratio (M/F) of 3. Patients were seen on average 14.7 days (range 7-21) after the onset of signs. CES was complete in 56.2% and incomplete in 43.7%. Disc herniation was located at L4-L5 in 50%, L3-L4 and L5-S1 in 18.7% each, and L2-L3 in 12.5%. Discectomy was performed after laminectomy in 56.2% of patients. Patient outcomes were satisfactory, with the number of patients having an excellent or good SSCES score increasing from 2 preoperatively to 13 patients at the 6th postoperative month. Conclusion: The management of CES due to disc herniation at Brazzaville University Hospital is marked by diagnostic and therapeutic delays which impact neurological recovery. It is therefore important to raise awareness among healthcare providers and enable rapid patient access to imaging and surgery.
| Published in | International Journal of Neurosurgery (Volume 10, Issue 2) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.ijn.20261002.12 |
| Page(s) | 22-26 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Cauda Equina Syndrome, Disc Herniation, Laminectomy, SSCES Score, Brazzaville University Hospital
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APA Style
Boukassa, L., Banga-Mouss, R. B., Bambino, S. B. K., Lamini, N., Kala, R. G. B., et al. (2026). Surgical Management of Cauda Equina Syndrome Due to Disc Herniation at Brazzaville University Hospital (2022-2025): About 16 Cases. International Journal of Neurosurgery, 10(2), 22-26. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijn.20261002.12
ACS Style
Boukassa, L.; Banga-Mouss, R. B.; Bambino, S. B. K.; Lamini, N.; Kala, R. G. B., et al. Surgical Management of Cauda Equina Syndrome Due to Disc Herniation at Brazzaville University Hospital (2022-2025): About 16 Cases. Int. J. Neurosurg. 2026, 10(2), 22-26. doi: 10.11648/j.ijn.20261002.12
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Download@article{10.11648/j.ijn.20261002.12,
author = {Leon Boukassa and Roland Bertile Banga-Mouss and Sinclair Brice Kinata Bambino and Norbert Lamini and Rel Gerald Boukaka Kala and Olivier Brice Ngackosso Olivier and Daphtone Nkouala Kidede and Hugues Brieux Ekouele Mbaki},
title = {Surgical Management of Cauda Equina Syndrome Due to Disc Herniation at Brazzaville University Hospital (2022-2025): About 16 Cases},
journal = {International Journal of Neurosurgery},
volume = {10},
number = {2},
pages = {22-26},
doi = {10.11648/j.ijn.20261002.12},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijn.20261002.12},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijn.20261002.12},
abstract = {Introduction: Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is a dreaded complication of lumbar disc herniations, requiring rapid surgical management. The few studies conducted in low-income countries note a failure to meet this requirement. We conducted this study to describe the management of patients operated on for this condition in the neurosurgery department of the Brazzaville University Hospital. Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study conducted between January 2022 and December 2025, involving 16 patients operated on for CES due to disc herniation, confirmed by imaging (CT or MRI). Pre- and postoperative severity was assessed using the SSCES (Scoring System for Cauda Equina Syndrome). Patients were followed up at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. Results: The mean age was 48.2 years (range 39-68), with a sex ratio (M/F) of 3. Patients were seen on average 14.7 days (range 7-21) after the onset of signs. CES was complete in 56.2% and incomplete in 43.7%. Disc herniation was located at L4-L5 in 50%, L3-L4 and L5-S1 in 18.7% each, and L2-L3 in 12.5%. Discectomy was performed after laminectomy in 56.2% of patients. Patient outcomes were satisfactory, with the number of patients having an excellent or good SSCES score increasing from 2 preoperatively to 13 patients at the 6th postoperative month. Conclusion: The management of CES due to disc herniation at Brazzaville University Hospital is marked by diagnostic and therapeutic delays which impact neurological recovery. It is therefore important to raise awareness among healthcare providers and enable rapid patient access to imaging and surgery.},
year = {2026}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Surgical Management of Cauda Equina Syndrome Due to Disc Herniation at Brazzaville University Hospital (2022-2025): About 16 Cases AU - Leon Boukassa AU - Roland Bertile Banga-Mouss AU - Sinclair Brice Kinata Bambino AU - Norbert Lamini AU - Rel Gerald Boukaka Kala AU - Olivier Brice Ngackosso Olivier AU - Daphtone Nkouala Kidede AU - Hugues Brieux Ekouele Mbaki Y1 - 2026/10/23 PY - 2026 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijn.20261002.12 DO - 10.11648/j.ijn.20261002.12 T2 - International Journal of Neurosurgery JF - International Journal of Neurosurgery JO - International Journal of Neurosurgery SP - 22 EP - 26 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2640-1959 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijn.20261002.12 AB - Introduction: Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is a dreaded complication of lumbar disc herniations, requiring rapid surgical management. The few studies conducted in low-income countries note a failure to meet this requirement. We conducted this study to describe the management of patients operated on for this condition in the neurosurgery department of the Brazzaville University Hospital. Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study conducted between January 2022 and December 2025, involving 16 patients operated on for CES due to disc herniation, confirmed by imaging (CT or MRI). Pre- and postoperative severity was assessed using the SSCES (Scoring System for Cauda Equina Syndrome). Patients were followed up at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. Results: The mean age was 48.2 years (range 39-68), with a sex ratio (M/F) of 3. Patients were seen on average 14.7 days (range 7-21) after the onset of signs. CES was complete in 56.2% and incomplete in 43.7%. Disc herniation was located at L4-L5 in 50%, L3-L4 and L5-S1 in 18.7% each, and L2-L3 in 12.5%. Discectomy was performed after laminectomy in 56.2% of patients. Patient outcomes were satisfactory, with the number of patients having an excellent or good SSCES score increasing from 2 preoperatively to 13 patients at the 6th postoperative month. Conclusion: The management of CES due to disc herniation at Brazzaville University Hospital is marked by diagnostic and therapeutic delays which impact neurological recovery. It is therefore important to raise awareness among healthcare providers and enable rapid patient access to imaging and surgery. VL - 10 IS - 2 ER -
Faculty of Health Sciences, Marien Ngouabi University, Brazzaville, Congo;Neurosurgery Department, Brazzaville University Hospital, Brazzaville, Congo
Faculty of Health Sciences, Marien Ngouabi University, Brazzaville, Congo;Urology Department, Brazzaville University Hospital, Brazzaville, Congo
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