Superficial Abdominal Reflexes: Clinical Test for Possible Intraspinal Pathology
Superficial abdominal reflexes are tested by having the patient lie supine on the examining table. A blunt object (handle of a reflect hammer) is stroked along each quadrant of the abdomen, noting whether the umbilicus moves toward the point being stroked. Asymmetry or unilateral absence of the superficial abdominal reflect should alert the examiner to possible intraspinal pathology.
References: 1-4
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2. Saifuddin, A., Tucker, S., Taylor, B.A., Noordeen, M. H. & Lehovsky, J. Prevalence and clinical significance of superficial abdominal reflect abnormalities in idiopathic scoliosis. Eur Spine J 15, 849-853, doi:10.1007/s00586-004-0850-x (2005)
3. Yngve, D. Abdominal reflexes. J Pediatr Orthop 17, 105-108 (1997).
4. Zadeh, H. G., Sakka, S. A., Powell, M.P. & Mehta, M. H. Absent superficial abdominal reflexes in children with scoliosis. An early indicator of syringomyelia. J Bone Joint Surg Br 77, 762-767 (1995).
Submitted by:
William C. Warner, MD
Germantown, TN
