-Report on Experiments and Clinical Cases-

Applying the Extensor Digitorum Reflex to Neurological Examination

Ming-Juan Zhang, Can-Zhan Zhu, Zong-ming Duan and Xiaolin Niu

Department of Cardiology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiao Tong University, China

Aim: To determine the value of the extensor digitorum reflex in neurologic examination.
Methods: The extensor digitorum, biceps, and brachioradialis reflexes were elicited in 65 patients with hemiplegia and upper-limb paralysis and in a control group of 120 apparently healthy people. Reflexes were elicited by both conventional means and a new method for the extensor digitorum reflex. The sensitivity and specificity of the extensor digitorum reflex were compared with that of the conventional biceps and brachioradialis reflexes to evaluate the value of the extensor digitorum reflex for neurologic examination.
Results: The sensitivity of the extensor digitorum, biceps, and nrachioradialis reflexes were 93.65%, 90.48%, and 90.48%, respectively. The specificity of the extensor digitorum, biceps, and brachioradialis reflexes were 95.83%, 94.17%, and 93.33%, respectively. The diagnostic efficacies of the extensor digitorum, biceps, and brachioradialis reflexes were 95.08%, 92.90%, and 91.26%, respectively. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in sensitivity, specificity, or accuracy among the extensor digitorum, biceps or brachioradialis reflexes in neurologic examination.
Conclusions: The extensor digitorum reflex is a sensitive and useful deep tendon reflex and is suitable for widespread use in neurological examination.

J Nippon Med Sch 2010; 77: 250-253

Keywords
extensor digitorum reflex, neurological examination

Correspondence to
Ming-Juan Zhang, MD, PhD, Department of Cardiology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiao Tong University, The Western Fifth Road No157#, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, The Peoples' Republic of China
zhangmingjuan@mail.xjtu.edu.cn

Received, May 17, 2010
Accepted, May 29, 2010