The Brissaud sign

Abstract

A 65-year-old man has a three-month history of lumbar back pain and progressive lower extremity weakness due a T6 spinal cord compression secondary to hepatic metastatic carcinoma. Examination revealed, paraplegia, urinary incontinence, T10 sensory level, lower limbs hyperactive deep reflex, and hallux indifferent cutaneous plantar response but with an exuberant fascia lata reflex (Figure). The Brissaud sign 1 , a succedaneum published only 22 days after Babinski's famous lecture, is a twitch in the lateral portion of the quadriceps muscle on tickling the sole of the foot and represents a proximal component of the flexion reflex synergy owing to pyramidal tract disfunction

Édouard Brissaud: distinguished neurologist and Charcot’s pupil

“…In the field of movement disorders, Brissaud also introduced the term "mental torticollis", a focal form of dystonia, and described the "geste antagoniste", nowadays also known as a sensory trick 12,13 . Finally, Brissaud described the pseudobulbar affect, calling it "rire et pleurer spasmodique", the post-traumatic stress disorder, the Brissaud-Sicard syndrome (a pontine-crossed syndrome with ipsilateral hemifacial spasm and contralateral hemiparesis), and the Brissaud sign, a succedaneum of the Babinski sign 14,15,16,17,18 .…”

Teaching Video Neuro Images : Missing toe

“…The Brissaud reflex is characterized by a contraction of the tensor fasciae latae due to stimulus over the plantar aspect of the foot, which is better visualized on the lateral aspect of the thigh. 1,2 This is a useful neurologic sign in patients with suspected upper motor neuron disease and absent hallux. It was named after Édouard Brissaud, a pupil of Charcot, who described the reflex in 1896 a few days after Babinski's famous lecture.…”