L4-5 disk lesion resulting in back pain with bowel, bladder and sexual dysfunction without paraparesis

Abstract

This is a case report of a patient with bowel, bladder and sexual dysfunction associated with low back pain. This patient had an essentially normal neurological examination. There was radiological evidence of a disk lesion, and urodynamic findings consistent with lower motor neuron bladder dysfunction. His symptoms are attributed to a L4-5 disk herniation resulting in a partial cauda equina syndrome. The relevant anatomy is reviewed, and the differential diagnosis is discussed.