Umbilical movement after spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
Charles Beevor first discussed the movement of the umbilicus seen upon abdominal muscle contraction in neuromuscular diseases and spinal cord injury (SCI) over a century ago. Since then, other examples of this phenomenon have been reported in the literature.


METHODS
This case review study documents movements of the umbilicus caused by abdominal muscle weakness after SCI.


RESULTS
SCI results in characteristic weakness of the abdominal muscles resulting in predictable movement of the umbilicus upon abdominal muscle contraction.


CONCLUSIONS
Observation of umbilical movement with abdominal muscle contraction after SCI gives further confirmatory information about neurological level and type of spinal cord lesion. Further study should include information about the effect of abdominal weakness on motor and respiratory function.
Chiodo
Anthony
A
Please address correspondence to Anthony Chiodo, MD, University of Michigan Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 325 E. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, USA. tchiodo@umich.edu
Ho
Suehun
S
D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014472:Umbilicus / Q000503:physiopathology*