Abstract
The primitive reflexes and the postural reactions comprise one of the earliest, simplest,
and most frequently used tools among child neurologists to assess the central nervous
system integrity of infants and young children. Infants with cerebral palsy have been
known to manifest persistence or delay in the disappearance of primitive reflexes
and pathologic or absent postural reactions. The clinical significance of asymmetric
tonic neck reflex, Moro, palmar grasp, plantar grasp, Galant, Babinski, Rossolimo,
crossed extensor, suprapubic extensor, and heel reflex, alone or in combination, as
well as their contribution to the early diagnosis and differential diagnosis of cerebral
palsy, have been demonstrated in a number of studies. Moreover, infants with 5 or
more abnormal postural reactions have developed either cerebral palsy or developmental
retardation as reported in a number of studies. Although a comprehensive neurologic
examination in the context of a motor assessment instrument is preferable to an informal
list of items, the combined examination of primitive reflexes and postural reactions
should be considered by the child neurologist, as a simple but predictive screening
test for the early identification of infants at risk for cerebral palsy. It is quick
and easy to perform, both in nonhospital environments and in underdeveloped countries,
where time and specific recourses are limited. The combined examination is also useful
in developed countries because many developmental disorders such as cerebral palsy
appear in nonrisk groups whereas others are not detected by metabolic screening programs.
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
January 23,
2004
Received:
September 9,
2003
Identification
Copyright
© 2004 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
