0000000000822110
AUTHOR
Cordula Hölker
Assessment of brainstem function in Chiari II malformation utilizing brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP), blink reflex and masseter reflex
Brainstem dysfunction was evaluated in 67 patients with myelomeningocele and Chiari II malformation using brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP), blink reflex (BR) and masseter reflex (MR). Signs and symptoms related to Chiari II malformation were observed in 18 patients while 49 patients had normal brainstem findings. BAEP and BR showed a higher sensitivity of brainstem involvement than MR (BAEP=1.0, BR=0.83, MR=0.50). BR, and in particular, MR were of higher accuracy (BR=0.52, MR=0.72) than BAEP (0.39) in separating patients with brainstem signs and symptoms related to Chiari II malformation. We feel that this is due to anatomic and physiologic peculiarities of the brainstem structur…
Masseter reflex and blink reflex abnormalities in Chiari II malformation.
Masseter reflex and blink reflex were evaluated in 64 patients with a myelomeningocele and Chiari II malformation. In 46 patients, no brainstem signs or symptoms were present. Brainstem dysfunction related to Chiari II malformation occurred in 18 patients. The masseter reflex was more frequently abnormal in the symptomatic than asymptomatic patients (P = 0.02). Although the blink reflex was similarly affected in the two groups of patients (P > 0.1), it was very sensitive, being abnormal in 83% of symptomatic and 65% of asymptomatic patients. Concomitant abnormality of masseter reflex and the late contralateral blink reflex component (R2c) was almost exclusively found in symptomatic patients…
Masseter reflex in childhood and adolescence.
We report normative data of masseter reflex from a group of 54 children 2-16 years of age. For statistical analysis, the patients were divided into five age groups: 2-4, 5-7, 8-10, 11-13, and 14-16 years of age. A tap to the chin, using a hammer with a trigger device, elicited the masseter reflex. The response was recorded by surface electrodes. The onset latency and peak-to-peak amplitude of the averaged curve of eight reflex responses were measured. The reflex response could be recorded in all children and adolescents of all groups. The mean latency shortened from age 2 to 7 and was stable at the age of 8 years. As a sign of maturation, the increase of amplitude corresponded to the shorte…