The nurse is assessing the neurologic status of a patient who has a late-stage brain tumor. With the reflex hammer, the nurse draws a light stroke up the lateral side of the sole of the foot and inward, across the ball of the foot. In response,
the patient's toes fan out, and the big toe shows dorsiflexion. The nurse interprets this result as:
a.
Negative Babinski sign, which is normal for adults.
b.
Positive Babinski sign, which is abnormal for adults.
c.
Clonus, which is a hyperactive response.
d.
Achilles reflex, which is an expected response.
ANS: B
Dorsiflexion of the big toe and fanning of all toes is a positive Babinski sign, also called up-going toes. This response occurs with upper motor neuron disease of the corticospinal (or pyramidal) tract and is an abnormal finding for adults.
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