Multiple Sclerosis Case 2

A 43-year-old woman presents to the ED as she has noticed problems with her gait over the past 24 hours. Both legs feel heavier than normal and she feels she is stumbling and dragging her left foot. There is no preceding history of trauma but she describes low back pain for 1-2 days prior to the onset of her symptoms. On direct questioning she describes difficulty in initiating urinary voiding the same day but no faecal incontinence.

Clinical examination reveals tenderness to palpation of the lower lumber region. There is saddle paraesthesia with reduced anal tone. Sensation is reduced bilaterally in the L4/5 S1 distribution and there is reduced power on plantarflexion of the left foot.

A bladder scan reveals a residual volume of 400 ml.

In respect of this patient, which of the following statements are correct?

With respect to cauda equina syndrome:

Select the statements which are true.

With respect to transverse myelitis:

Select the statements which are true.