Clinical Implication of Long-Standing Delayed Plantar Reflex after Spinal Cord Injury: Case report

ABSTRACT

When recovery of specific reflexes after acute spinal cord injury are delayed or absent, we should consider an acute local complication or other factors that influence reflex function. We observed three spinal cord injury cases with a long-standing delayed plantar reflex and no evolution of Babinski sign despite enough recovery time had passed for the flexor spasm and all deep tendon reflexes of the lower extremities. In these cases we confirmed common peroneal nerve neuropathy at the fibular head by the nerve conduction study and electromyography. Long-standing delayed plantar reflex without evolution of Babinski sign, beyond expected recovery period, would be considered as a sign of local complication such as common peroneal nerve injury.