Synchronized Babinski and Chaddock signs preceded the MRI findings in a case of repetitive transient ischemic attack.

We herein report a 53-year-old female with repeated transient ischemic attack (TIA) symptoms including 13 instances of right hemiparesis that decreased in duration over 4 days. Two separate examinations using diffusion weighted image (DWI) in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed normal findings, but we observed that both Babinski and Chaddock signs were completely synchronized with her right hemiparesis. We were only able to diagnose this case of early stage TIA using clinical signs. This diagnosis was confirmed 4 days after the onset by the presence of abnormalities on the MRI. DWI-MRI is generally useful when diagnosing TIA, but a neurological examination may be more sensitive, especially in the early stages.

The babkin reflex in infants: clinical significance and neural mechanism.

BACKGROUND: There have been very few studies concerning the Babkin reflex-opening of the mouth and flexion of the arms in response to stimulation of the palms. We attempted to clarify the clinical significance and neural mechanism of the reflex through systematic review. METHODS: Searches were conducted on Medline, Embase, and Google Scholar from their inception through August 2012. RESULTS: In normal term infants, the Babkin reflex can be elicited from the time of birth, becomes increasingly suppressed with age, and disappears in the great majority by the end of the fifth month of age. A marked response in the fourth or fifth month of age and persistence of the reflex beyond the fifth month of age are generally regarded as abnormal. On the other hand, because there are some normal infants showing no response during the neonatal period or early infancy, the absence of the response during these periods is not necessarily an abnormal finding. CONCLUSIONS: Infants with these abnormal findings should be carefully observed for the appearance of neurological abnormalities including cerebral palsy and mental retardation. It is most likely that the Babkin reflex is mediated by the reticular formation of the brainstem, which receives inputs from the nonprimary motor cortices. On the basis of the hand-mouth reflex, more adaptive movement develops as control of the nonprimary motor cortices over the reflex mechanism in the reticular formation increases. Soon it evolves into the voluntary eye-hand-mouth coordination necessary for food intake as the control of the prefrontal cortex over the nonprimary motor cortices becomes predominant.

Cortical versus non-cortical lesions affect expression of Babinski sign.

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between the pattern of pathological plantar response (Babinski sign), and the focus of the lesions of pyramidal tract. We examined 107 subjects with definite lesions of the pyramidal tract recruited from inpatients at the Neurology Department of the Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University (Beijing, China). We found that patients with sub-cortical lesions (corona radiata to spinal cord) showed different patterns of Babinski sign than those with lesions within the primary motor cortex. Specifically, dorsiflexion of the big toe without recruitment of the other toes was seen in 71.4 % of patients with cortical pyramidal tract lesions, while 93 patients with lesions lower than cortex (corona radiata to spinal cord) showed movement of other toes in addition to the big toe, which showed movement due to contraction of the extensor hallucis longus tendon in all patients. There were no differences in patterns of Babinski sign between the different sub-cortical lesion foci. We conclude that the patterns of Babinski sign can be used to predict cortical lesions of the pyramidal tract.

The plantar reflex: additional value of stroking the lateral border of the foot to provoke an upgoing toe sign and the influence of experience.

The aim of this work was to determine the value of stroking the lateral dorsal border of the foot, in addition to stroking the sole in patients with a suspected pyramidal tract lesion. In addition, we studied the differences in interpretation between neurologists, residents, and medical students. We included subjects who had weakness of at least one leg and in whom a pyramidal tract lesion was suspected. After testing muscle power, tone, reflexes, and foot tapping, a decision on the presence of a pyramidal syndrome had to be made by each observer. After stimulating the sole as well as the lateral border of the foot, observers made a decision about the presence of a pyramidal syndrome again. Twenty-two legs of 18 patients were examined. Testing the plantar reflex (according to both methods) led to a change of opinion on the presence of a pyramidal syndrome in 45 of 69 (65 %) observations. On analysis according to level of experience, a change of opinion occurred in 19 (86 %) observations by medical students, 15 (65 %) by residents, and 11 (46 %) by neurologists. On eight occasions, the change was prompted by stimulation of the lateral border; in five of these cases the examiner (three medical students and two residents) found a new pathological response. Consecutively stroking the sole and the lateral border may be of added value, especially for less-experienced physicians. It seems that more-experienced physicians need fewer tests in the physical examination in order to identify a pyramidal syndrome of the leg.

Why are upper motor neuron signs difficult to elicit in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?

It is often difficult to identify signs of upper motor neuron lesion in the limbs of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, in whom there is neurogenic muscle wasting of varying severity. The reasons for this are complex and not related simply to the degree of lower motor neuron muscle wasting but, rather, depend on the pathophysiological abnormalities that develop in response to damage to descending motor pathways and to motor neurons and interneurons in the ventral horns of the spinal cord. The different mechanisms underlying the clinical phenomenology of the functional motor defect in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, that lead to difficulty in detecting classical upper motor neuron signs, are discussed.

Magnetic resonance T2 image signal intensity ratio and clinical manifestation predict prognosis after surgical intervention for cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective imaging study of 73 patients who underwent surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) between April 2005 and July 2007. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether magnetic resonance (MR) T2 image signal intensity (SI) ratio and clinical manifestation can assess the prognosis in patients with CSM. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The association between intramedullary high SI on T2-weighted MR images and surgical outcome in CSM remains controversial. The means of quantizing SI ratio for the disease has not been discussed. METHODS: A total of 73 patients with cervical compressive myelopathy were retrospectively enrolled and were treated with anterior, posterior, and posterior-anterior united decompression. A total of 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging was performed in all patients before surgery. T2-weighted images of sagittal increased SI on the cervical spinal cord were obtained, and the regions of interest (ROIs) are taken by 0.05 cm. T2-weighted MR images of sagittal normal cord SI on the cervical between C7-T1 disc levels were obtained, and the ROIs are taken by 0.3 cm. SI value is measured by computer, and the SI ratio between the regions 0.05 cm and 0.3 cm has been calculated. If no intramedullary high SI was noted on T2-weighted MR images, the ROIs were taken by 0.05 cm of the severe compression cord. All patients had been divided into 3 groups by hierarchical clustering analysis with SI ratio (Group 1: low SI ratio, Group 2: middle SI ratio, and Group 3: high SI ratio). Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS 11.0. RESULTS: There are significant differences between 3 groups by comparing the recovery rate (P < 0.001), age (P = 0.003), duration of disease (P = 0.001), Babinski sign (P < 0.001), preoperative JOA score (P = 0.006), and postoperative JOA score (P < 0.001). There are no significant differences on sex among 3 groups (P = 0.387). By using the multiple comparison analysis, the above results are further shown. CONCLUSION: Patients with low SI ratio who were not too old and had a shorter duration of disease experienced a good surgical outcome. However, with the increase of SI ratio and the occurrence of pyramidal sign, a poor prognosis after surgery will show. SI ratio and clinical manifestation can be a predictor of surgical outcome.

Efferent and afferent evoked potentials in patients with adrenomyeloneuropathy.

OBJECTIVE: This paper investigates efferent and afferent conductions of the central nervous system by various evoked potentials in patients with adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten pure AMN patients without cerebral involvement were studied. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs), somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs), auditory brainstem response (ABR), and pattern reversal full-field visual evoked potentials (VEPs) were recorded. For MEP recording, single-pulse or double-pulse magnetic brainstem stimulation (BST) was also performed. RESULTS: Abnormal MEP was observed in all ten patients, abnormal SEP in all ten, abnormal ABR in nine, and abnormal VEP in only one. Brainstem latency was measured in three of the seven patients with central motor conduction time (CMCT) prolongation. The cortical-brainstem conduction time was severely prolonged along the normal or mildly delayed brainstem-cervical conduction time in those three patients. CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of normal VEP and abnormal MEP, SEP, ABR is a clinically useful electrophysiological feature for the diagnosis. BST techniques are helpful to detect, functionally, intracranial corticospinal tract involvement, probably demyelination, in pure AMN patients.

Puusepp's sign--clinical significance of a forgotten pyramidal sign.

The pyramidal signs in the lower extremity can be divided into three groups: (1) Babinski's group characterised by dorsoflexion of the great toe, (2) pyramidal signs marked by plantar flexion of the toes (e.g. Rossolimo's sign), and (3) synkinetic movements such as Strümpell's phenomenon. Puusepp's sign described by the Estonian neurologist and neurosurgeon Ludvig Puusepp belongs to none of these three groups. Its eliciting does not differ from that of Babinski's sign. The response, however, is different and consists of a tonic slow abduction of the little toe. We showed its relevance on the basis of clinical examination of six patients: four females aged 29, 50, 43 and 57 years and two males aged 42 and 49 years. The diagnoses were as follows: a new relapse of multiple sclerosis, a secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, a left middle cerebral artery stroke, a lumbago resulting in L3-L4 fusion surgery, an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and a left intracerebral haemorrhage respectively. Puusepp's sign was the only elicitable pyramidal sign in all the patients but two. The 50-year-old female patient revealed on neurological examination Babinski's sign on the left side and Puusepp's sign on the right side. The testing of pyramidal signs in the 57-year-old woman displayed a bilateral Strümpell's sign and a left Puusepp's sign. These six cases showed that although rarely recognized in the clinical practice Puusepp's sign contributed to establishing the diagnosis of a central motor neuron involvement in the case of an absent Babinski's sign. Thus, its testing does not differ from that of Babinski's sign which requires only a little attention from the examiner, but provides an important piece of clinical information.

Clinical correlations of cervical myelopathy and the Hoffmann sign.

OBJECT: The Hoffmann sign is commonly used in clinical practice to assess cervical spine disease. It is unknown whether the sign correlates with the severity of myelopathy, and no consensus exists regarding the significance of a positive sign in asymptomatic individuals. METHODS: In a retrospective review of cervical spine surgeries for myelopathy due to cervical spondylosis, ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, or disc herniation performed at a tertiary center, the authors compiled data on the presence of hyperreflexia, the Hoffmann and Babinski signs, and modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) scale scores. Then, in a prospective evaluation, new patients with lumbar spine complaints were examined for the presence of a Hoffmann sign, and, if present, a cervical MR imaging study was assessed for cord compression. RESULTS: Of the 225 surgically treated patients, a Hoffmann sign occurred in 68%, hyperreflexia in 60%, and a Babinski sign in 33%. In patients with milder disability (mJOA Scores 14-16), the Hoffmann sign was present in 46%, whereas a Babinski sign occurred in 10%; in those with severe myelopathy and mJOA scores of < or =10, the Hoffmann sign was present in 81% and the Babinski sign in 83%. Of 290 patients presenting exclusively with lumbar spine-related complaints, 36 (12%) had a positive Hoffmann sign. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated spinal cord compression in 91% when the sign was present bilaterally and 50% when positive unilaterally. CONCLUSIONS: In patients surgically treated for cervical myelopathy, the Hoffmann sign is more prevalent and more likely to be seen in individuals with less severe neurological deficits than the Babinski sign. In patients with lumbar symptoms, a bilateral Hoffmann sign was a highly sensitive marker for occult cervical cord compression, whereas a unilateral Hoffmann sign correlated with similar disease in about one-half of patients.

Contribution of plantar pressure to the prevention and quantification of the muscle-skeletal injury risk in hiking trails--a pilot study.

Hiking trails have been growing in popularity in the health and well-being promotion. Consequently, the foot became an object of study in order to understand the discomfort and pain in the lower limb. The aims of the work were: 1) to detect tendencies for behaviour of maximum values of plantar pressure (MaxP) during the walk on different slopes, 2) to contribute to the methodology of the difficulty level of hiking trails. Equations show strong tendencies (R2 > 0.8) of behaviour of MaxP in the lateral zones of the heel, 4th and 5th metatarsus as well as in the plantar zone of the hallux. The analysis of the difficulty level of the hiking trails branches deserves a separate presentation, including the technical difficulty analysis (with a compulsory emphasis on the biomechanics) and information on the caloric consumption and on the slopes of each branch.

Acute spinal cord compression in hereditary multiple exostoses.

Osteocartilaginous exostoses are benign bone tumors frequently found in the metaphysis of long bones but rarely in the spine. Four patients with acute spinal cord decompensation due to vertebral exostoses spinal cord compression have been previously described in the literature. We report an additional case of rapidly evolving spinal cord compression due to a cervical osteochondroma in a patient with hereditary multiple exostoses (HME), also known as Bessel Hagen disease. Careful analysis of the 5 cases suggested to us that patients with HME should have a systematic spinal imaging screening, in order to prevent rapid neurological decompensation. A minimal risk surgical procedure can be performed at a time of election.

[Reflex responses from the sural nerve to tibialis anterior muscle in hemiplegic patients: the relation between the responses and Babinski sign].

Stimulation of the sural nerve of healthy subjects induced short latency inhibition in the ipsilateral tibialis anterior muscle and facilitation in peroneal muscle. We examined lower limb muscle responses after stimulation of the sural nerve in 19 patients with hemiplegia caused by cerebro-vascular disease and compared them with the control responses. The sural nerve was stimulated electrically (3 or 5 square wave pulses of 0.5 ms repeated at 250 Hz) during weak tonic contraction. Stimulation was triggered to average the rectified surface electromyography (EMG) of the test muscle. Usually 100 - 200 sweeps were averaged. After stimulation, the tibialis anterior muscle on the affected side of the hemiplegic patients showed the patterns of inhibition, facilitation, and no response, whereas all responses on the unaffected side, except those of one patient, were inhibition. The peroneal muscle on both sides showed only facilitation as in the controls. Abnormal responses of the tibialis anterior muscle on the affected side were present in many patients who had the Babinski sign. Abnormal responses in the tibialis anterior muscle of the affected side may have been due to contributions by disinhibition of the flexor reflex, late-recruited motor units or both.