Citation

Pistacchi M, Gioulis M, Mazzon D, Marsala SZ. J. Neurosci. Rural Pract. 2015; 6(4): 591-593.

Affiliation

Department of Neurology, San Martino Hospital, Viale Europa 22, 32100, Belluno, Italy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Medknow Publications)

DOI

10.4103/0976-3147.165428

PMID

26752910

PMCID

PMC4692024

Abstract

Corneomandibular reflex is a pathological phenomenon evident in cases of severe brainstem damage. It is considered to be a pathological exteroceptive reflex, associated with precentro bulbar tract lesions. The sign is useful in distinguishing central neurological injuries to metabolic disorders in acutely comatose patients, localizing lesions to the upper brainstem area, determining the depth of coma and its evolution, providing evidence of uncal or transtentorial herniation in acute cerebral hemisphere lesions, and it is a marker of supraspinal level impairment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis. This sign was evident in a patient with severe brain damage. We discuss the literature findings and its relevance in prognosis establishment.

Language: en