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 n...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Brain & development (Tokyo. 1979) 2000-10, Vol.22 (7), p.417-420
Main Authors: Koehler, Jürgen, Schwarz, Manfred, Boor, Rainer, Hölker, Cordula, Hopf, Hanns Christian, Voth, Dieter, Urban, Peter P, Ermert, August
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Arnold-Chiari Malformation - complications
Arnold-Chiari Malformation - physiopathology
Biological and medical sciences
Blink reflex
Blinking
Brain Stem - physiopathology
Brainstem auditory evoked potentials
Child
Child, Preschool
Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem
Female
Humans
Hydrocephalus - physiopathology
Male
Malformations of the nervous system
Masseter Muscle - physiopathology
Masseter reflex: Chiari II malformation
Medical sciences
Meningomyelocele - complications
Meningomyelocele - physiopathology
Myelomeningocele
Neurology
Reflex
Sensitivity and Specificity
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Summary: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 structures mediating BR and MR. Our results suggest that brainstem reflexes can support the decision of further treatment.
ISSN:0387-7604
1872-7131
DOI:10.1016/S0387-7604(00)00162-5