Re: Corticospinal Tract Lesions

Posted By Jon on November 20, 1998 at 19:06:41:

In Reply to: Re: Corticospinal Tract Lesions posted by CCF Neurology W6 MD on November 20, 1998 at 18:43:47:







Thanks for your help.

I agree that they should be increased, but I have been told a few times
that they are decreased. Could it have something to do with the fact that
the EPT tone via the intrafusal fibers is increased, resulting in difficulty
in stretching the muscle enough to elicit a reflex response?


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Dear Jon,
I don't think so, the tone is still increased, but the difficulty in obtaining the reflex is because of the contracture. So, yes DTR can be down after an UMN lesion, but this is really the exception rather than the rule.
Do not subscribe to this idea lest you will make a mistake on examination.
It is good to keep it at the back of your mind though...
good luck again.