You are examining a child with severe cerebral palsy. When you suddenly move his foot dorsally, a sustained "beating" of the foot against your hand ensues. What does this represent?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Clonus is a sustained rhythmic "beating" which correlates with CNS disease and hyperreflexia. A focal seizure could be virtually ruled out by stopping the stimulus and watching the phenomenon stop. Extinction is a term applied to sensory testing where one side of a simultaneous, bilateral stimulus is not felt because of damage to the cortex. Reinforcement applies to enhancing reflex examination by distracting the patient, for example, by pulling his hands against each other.

You Are Examining a Child with Severe Cerebral Palsy