The initial assessment is focused on excluding serious causes of spine pathology that require urgent intervention

Next Pivotal Assessment	Finding
History	Bilateral leg weakness or numbness Bladder dysfunction (inability to urinate, urinary retention, or incontinence) Bowel dysfunction (fecal incontinence or constipation)	Fecal Incontinence Multiple Myeloma, Current or Recent History			New Urinary Retention	Saddle Anesthesia	Trauma, History of
Physical Exam