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Babinski reflex
For loss of brain control
over lower extremities. Scraping
the soles causes toes to pull up. Also
called Babinski reflex, toe sign.
Babinski’s sign: 1. Loss or lessening
of the Achilles tendon reflex in sciatica;
this distinguishes it from hysteric sciatica.
2. Babinski’s reflex. 3. In hemiplegia,
the contraction of the platysma
muscle in the healthy side is more vigorous
than on the affected side, as seen
in opening the mouth, whistling, blowing,
etc. 4. The patient lies supine on
the floor, with arms crossed upon his
chest, and then makes an effort to rise
to the sitting posture. On the paralyzed
side, the thigh is flexed upon the pelvis
and the heel is lifted from the ground,
while on the healthy side the limb does
not move. This phenomenon is repeated
when the patient resumes the
lying posture. It is seen in organic
hemiplegia, but not in hysterical
hemiplegia. 5. When the paralyzed fore-arm
is placed in supination, it turns
over to pronation; seen in organic paralysis.
Called also pronation sign.
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Bekhterev’s test
The patient seated in
bed is directed to stretch out both legs;
in sciatica he cannot do this, but can
stretch out each leg in turn.
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Bench test
For nonorganic back pain.
In normal hip motion, the patient
should be able to bend over and touch
the floor kneeling on a 12-inch high
bench; not being able to implies a
nonorganic (or psychologic) back pain.
Also called Burns test.
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Bowstring sign
With leg raised with
knee bent in same position, pain is felt
in the back of limb pressing on the popliteal fossa. Increased pain is sign
of nerve irritability.
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Bracelet test
The production of pain
on moderate lateral compression of the
lower ends of the radius and ulna; observed in rheumatoid arthritis.
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Bragard’s sign
With the knee stiff, the
lower extremity is flexed at the hip until the patient experiences pain; the foot
is then dorsiflexed. Increase of pain
points to disease of the nerve root.
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British test
For knee pain and/or injury.
Compression of patella during active
quadriceps contraction as knee is ex-
tended elicits pain.
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Brudzinski’s sign
For meningitis.
Flexion of the neck forward results in flex-
ion of the hip and knee; when passive
flexion of the lower limb on one side is
made, a similar movement will be seen
in the opposite limb. Also called neck
sign, contralateral sign.
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Burns test
See under bench test
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