Cauda Equina Anal Probe
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Evaluation of an Innovative Diagnostic Anal Probe in Patients with Cauda Equina Syndrome
IRAS ID
132167
Contact name
Shaun Trecarten
Contact email
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 0 months, 29 days
Research summary
Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is a serious medical condition, where the spinal cord at the level just above your waist is damaged, resulting in many symptoms in organs and functions below your waist. Symptoms include back pain, bladder, bowel and sexual dysfunction, reduced sensation around the skin just outside the anus, and numbness and weakness of the lower limb.
Part of the diagnosis of this condition is the insertion of a doctor’s finger inside the patient’s rectum to feel for anal tone. In a recent study, this invasive procedure was found to be an unreliable tool for diagnosis of CES. The aim of this study is to evaluate an anal probe to objectively measure anal tone as well as sensation just outside the anus in patients with CES, in hopes that this may be used for the diagnosis of CES in the future.
The procedure will involve inserting the probe into the patient’s bottom, and having them squeeze it. This will test for anal tone. The probe is also able to vibrate, and the next part involves testing if the patients can feel the vibrations. This will test for sensation outside of the anus. Throughout the procedure, patient welfare will be our top priority.
REC name
Wales REC 4
REC reference
14/WA/1170
Date of REC Opinion
30 Oct 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion