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Abdominal reflexes
1University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555-0353, USA.
Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics
|January 1, 1997
Summary
Superficial abdominal reflexes show common variations in healthy individuals, including asymmetry and absence in some quadrants. Consistently absent reflexes on one side may warrant further investigation for scoliosis patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Orthopedics
- Clinical Assessment
Background:
- Superficial abdominal reflexes (SARs) are sometimes used to evaluate idiopathic scoliosis patients for syringomyelia.
- Understanding normal variations in SARs is crucial for accurate clinical interpretation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish normative data for superficial abdominal reflexes in healthy adolescents and young adults.
- To differentiate normal reflex variations from potentially pathological findings.
Main Methods:
- Tested SARs, patellar, and Achilles reflexes in 30 healthy adolescents and 35 healthy young adults.
- Each reflex test was repeated twice to assess consistency.
Main Results:
- 60% of subjects had bilaterally equal SARs; 14% had asymmetry, and 11% had absent reflexes in some quadrants.
- 15% had absent SARs in all quadrants, and 25% showed reflex extinction upon repeat testing.
- Consistently present on one side and absent on the other SARs did not occur in normal subjects.
Conclusions:
- Variations in SARs, including asymmetry and quadrant-specific absence, are common in healthy individuals.
- The absence of SARs on one side while present on the other may be a significant finding in scoliosis patients.
- Deep tendon reflexes (patellar and Achilles) were more consistent than SARs in this cohort.