[On the duality of the sign of fanning of the toes].
Starting from Babinski's original description, the author carries out a revision of semeiological value of the sign "fanning of the toes". It is considered that there are two clinical variants. The first, present in most cases of connatal encephalopathy, is due to involvement of the premotor area, which is usually accompanied by pyramidal, dystonic or athetoid signs. The second variant is present in cases of multiple sclerosis presumably attributable to involvement of the lateral spinal tracts including the reticulospinal one. The author proposes the need of using modern neuroimaging and electrophysiological techniques for further pathophysiological investigation of both clinical variants of the sign.
Barraquer Bordas
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Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Universitari de la Sta, Creu i St. Pau, Barcelona.
D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004525:Efferent Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D001405:Reflex, Babinski / Q000266:history