Which condition is caused by compression of nerve roots at the end of the spinal cord?

Cauda equina syndrome occurs when there is compression of the cauda equina, which is a bundle of spinal nerves and nerve rootlets located at the end of the spinal cord. This condition can arise from various causes, including herniated discs, tumors, or spinal stenosis, leading to symptoms such as lower back pain, leg weakness, saddle anesthesia, and bladder or bowel dysfunction. The nerve roots within the cauda equina control various functions of the lower body, so compression can significantly disrupt these functions, resulting in a medical emergency that requires prompt surgical intervention.

In contrast, other conditions listed do not specifically involve the compression of nerve roots at the end of the spinal cord. Brown-Séquard syndrome is characterized by hemisection of the spinal cord leading to contralateral loss of pain and temperature sensation and ipsilateral loss of proprioception and motor function. Autonomic dysreflexia is typically seen in patients with spinal cord injuries above T6, leading to exaggerated autonomic responses, but does not involve the cauda equina. Multiple sclerosis is a demyelinating disease affecting the central nervous system's white matter, causing a variety of neurological symptoms, but it is not caused by nerve root compression at the spinal cord's end.