The Most Impactful Articles on Cauda Equina Syndrome

Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is an uncommon condition that can lead to permanent neurological deficits if not diagnosed and addressed promptly. Varying prognoses, including retropulsed fracture fragments, disc herniations, and epidural abscesses, can result in CES. Our objective was to identify the top 50 most impactful articles on CES and analyze the characteristics of these publications. In August of 2021, we used the Web of Science Core Collection bibliographic database to query the phrase “cauda equina syndrome.” Articles between 1900 and 2021 were included in the search, and these articles were ranked based on the number of citations. The following variables were recorded: title, first author, journal, year of publication, number of citations, country of origin, the institution of publication, and topic of the paper. A total of 2096 articles matched the search criteria. The top 50 most impactful articles ranged from 43 to 439 in their number of citations. All articles on the list were published in English, with the year of publication ranging from 1938 to 2014. The United States accounted for the greatest number of articles published at 27. The medical journal Spine accounted for the greatest number of publications at nine. And the 2000s was the decade with the most cited articles. It is generally acknowledged that the clinical signals for CES are diverse with no predictive value on patient outcomes. Similar uncertainty exists in the etiology of the condition, though CES induced by spinal anesthesia is a factor of particular interest. Additionally, it is generally recognized that delayed diagnosis of the condition often results in permanent neurological deficits. Identification of the most impactful articles on CES is critical in drawing attention to this significant condition.