An orifice probe (10) apparatus, particularly for detecting if a patient has or has a risk of having cauda equina syndrome, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a probe (100) for insertion into the anus (30) of a patient, a sensing device (20) for measuring at least one of the factors indicative of the measurement of the rectal tone of the patient and whether the patient has perianal sensation, and an indicating apparatus (25) operatively connected to the sensing device whether the at least one factor indicative of the measurement of the rectal tone of the patient indicates that the patient is at risk of cauda equina syndrome.
