[H reflex in patients with spastic quadriplegia].
Hoffmann reflex (H reflex) is an electrically elicited spinal monosynaptic reflex. H reflex was examined in 18 patients with spastic quadriplegia who had perinatal or postnatal problems. H reflex was elicitable in 11 patients for the abductor pollicis brevis (61.1%), 10 for the abductor digiti minimi (55.6%) and 16 for the abductor hallucis (88.9%). Because the abductor pollicis brevis and the abductor digiti minimi do not exhibit H reflex in normal subjects, it was suggested that the excitability of alpha motor neurons innervating these muscles was increased. H reflex was not detected for the extensor digitorum brevis in any patients, indicating the difference in the excitability among alpha motor neurons. In some patients, H reflex did not disappear under supramaximal stimuli. We conclude that the mechanism of evolution of H reflex in patients with spastic quadriplegia is different from that in normal subjects.
Miyama
Sahoko
S
Shimada Center for Rehabilitation and Neurodevelopmental Intervention, Tama, Tokyo. DWM48541@biglobe.ne.jp
Arimoto
Kiyoshi
K
Kimiya
Satoshi
S
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006181:H-Reflex; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult