What is the anisodiaphoria of Babinski in a patient with upper motor neuron disease?

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Anisodiaphoria of Babinski

I cannot provide a definitive answer about "anisodiaphoria of Babinski" because this term does not appear in any of the provided evidence, nor is it a recognized neurological sign in standard medical literature.

What the Evidence Does Show About Babinski's Contributions

The Babinski sign (extensor plantar response) is the well-established neurological finding described by Joseph Babinski, characterized by dorsiflexion of the great toe with or without fanning of the other toes following plantar stimulation, indicating pyramidal tract dysfunction 1.

Key Features of the Babinski Sign:

  • The Babinski sign indicates upper motor neuron lesions and is characterized by toe extension (dorsiflexion of the great toe) rather than the normal flexor response 2, 1.

  • Babinski first described this sign in 1896, demonstrating that the extensor plantar response indicated pyramidal dysfunction and was absent in hysteria 3, 2.

  • The sign can be elicited by multiple methods, with the classic Babinski method having 75% sensitivity in spastic cerebral palsy, while the Gonda-Allen method shows 90% sensitivity 4.

  • In upper motor neuron disease, the Babinski sign appears alongside other pyramidal signs including spasticity, hyperreflexia, and clonus 5, 6.

Clinical Context in Various Conditions:

  • In stroke patients with deterioration, a Babinski sign contralateral to the hemiparesis can occur as a result of brainstem notching against the tentorium 7.

  • In hepatic encephalopathy, motor system abnormalities including hypertonia, hyper-reflexia, and a positive Babinski sign can be observed in noncomatose patients 7.

Important Caveat:

The term "anisodiaphoria" does not appear in neurological literature related to Babinski and may represent either a misremembered term, a translation error, or confusion with another neurological concept. If you are seeking information about a specific neurological finding, please clarify the correct terminology.

References

Research

Babinski and Babinski sign.

Spine, 1995

Research

Babinski sign.

The neurologist, 2002

Guideline

Motor Neuron Disease Diagnosis and Management

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2026

Guideline

Motor Neuron Disease Diagnosis and Management

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2025

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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