Cauda equina syndrome involves a series of pathological processes, including nerve cell necrosis and apoptosis, tissue edema and Wallerian degeneration of nerve fibers, and leads to in dysfunction of the corresponding motors, sensations and sphincters. Surgical treatment can relieve the cauda equina compression and reduce secondary injuries, only providing limited space for recovery of the cauda equina function, but not achieving a satisfactory result. However, the advances in basic research may lead to breakthrough. Neural science development has broken the traditional theory that axons are not reproducible after nerve injury, which has created a new situation for the repairment of injuried nerve. The development of cell transplantation technique and molecular technique has brought a new hope for efficiently repairing injuried cauda equina. This review focuses on the basic research progresses of pathological mechanism, animal model, nerve injury and repairment of cauda equina syndrome, and discusses the potential for therapies for cauda equine syndrome.