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Hoffmann sign

MedGen UID:
78828
Concept ID:
C0277839
Sign or Symptom
Synonyms: Hoffman's Reflex; Reflex, Hoffman's
SNOMED CT: Hoffman reflex (74229007); Hoffman's reflex (74229007); H-reflex (Hoffmann reflex) (74229007)
 
HPO: HP:0031993

Definition

A Hoffmann test is performed by flicking the fingernail of the long finger, from dorsal to volar, on each hand while the hand was supported by the examiner's hand. The test was done with the neck in the neutral position and then with the neck maximally forward flexed. Any flexion of the ipsilateral thumb and/or index finger was interpreted as a positive test. [from HPO]

Conditions with this feature

Early-onset progressive neurodegeneration-blindness-ataxia-spasticity syndrome
MedGen UID:
815995
Concept ID:
C3809665
Disease or Syndrome
Spastic paraplegia-79B (SPG79B) is an autosomal recessive progressive neurologic disorder characterized by onset of spastic paraplegia and optic atrophy in the first decade of life. Additional features are variable, but may include peripheral neuropathy, cerebellar ataxia, and cognitive impairment (summary by Rydning et al., 2017). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of autosomal recessive spastic paraplegia, see SPG5A (270800).
Hereditary spastic paraplegia 62
MedGen UID:
924879
Concept ID:
C4284588
Disease or Syndrome
A pure or complex form of hereditary spastic paraplegia with characteristics of onset in the first decade of life of spastic paraparesis (more prominent in lower than upper extremities) and unsteady gait, as well as increased deep tendon reflexes, amyotrophy, cerebellar ataxia and flexion contractures of the knees in some.
Spastic ataxia 9, autosomal recessive
MedGen UID:
1680026
Concept ID:
C5193100
Disease or Syndrome
Hypervalinemia and hyperleucine-isoleucinemia
MedGen UID:
1719306
Concept ID:
C5394277
Disease or Syndrome
Hypervalinemia and hyperleucine-isoleucinemia (HVLI) is a branched-chain amino acid metabolic disorder characterized by highly elevated plasma valine and leucine concentrations. The patient presented in adulthood with headache and mild memory impairment, and had abnormal symmetric white matter signals on brain MRI (Wang et al., 2015).
Spastic paraplegia 84, autosomal recessive
MedGen UID:
1794235
Concept ID:
C5562025
Disease or Syndrome
PI4KA-related disorder is a clinically variable disorder characterized primarily by neurologic dysfunction (limb spasticity, developmental delay, intellectual disability, seizures, ataxia, nystagmus), gastrointestinal manifestations (multiple intestinal atresia, inflammatory bowel disease), and combined immunodeficiency (leukopenia, variable immunoglobulin defects). Age of onset is typically antenatal or in early childhood; individuals can present with any combination of these features. Rare individuals present with later-onset hereditary spastic paraplegia. Brain MRI findings can include hypomyelinating leukodystrophy, cerebellar hypoplasia/atrophy, thin or dysplastic corpus callosum, and/or perisylvian polymicrogyria.
Hereditary spastic paraplegia 9A
MedGen UID:
1800401
Concept ID:
C5568978
Disease or Syndrome
Autosomal dominant spastic paraplegia-9A is a neurologic disorder characterized by onset of slowly progressive spasticity mainly affecting the lower limbs. The age at onset usually ranges from adolescence to adulthood, and patients have gait difficulties, motor neuropathy, and dysarthria. Additional variable features include cerebellar signs, cataract, pes cavus, and urinary urgency (summary by Coutelier et al., 2015). For a general phenotypic description and a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of autosomal dominant spastic paraplegia, see SPG3A (182600).
Hereditary spastic paraplegia 72
MedGen UID:
1847422
Concept ID:
C5882669
Disease or Syndrome
Hereditary spastic paraplegia-72A (SPG72A) is a pure form of spastic paraplegia with onset of difficulty walking and stiff legs associated with hyperreflexia and extensor plantar responses in early childhood. The disorder is slowly progressive, and some patients develop the need for assistance in walking. Some patients may have pes cavus or sphincter disturbances. Cognition, speech, and ocular function are normal (summary by Esteves et al., 2014). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of autosomal dominant spastic paraplegia, see SPG3A (182600).
Neuronopathy, distal hereditary motor, autosomal recessive 9
MedGen UID:
1850177
Concept ID:
C5882672
Disease or Syndrome
Autosomal recessive distal hereditary motor neuronopathy-9 (HMNR9) is a slowly progressive peripheral neuropathy characterized by juvenile onset of distal muscle weakness and atrophy, resulting in gait difficulties. Most affected individuals also have upper limb involvement with weakness and atrophy of the hand muscles. Foot deformities are often present. Some patients may have mild sensory abnormalities or pyramidal signs. Electrophysiologic studies are consistent with a length-dependent axonal motor neuropathy (summary by Jacquier et al., 2023). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of autosomal recessive HMN, see HMNR1 (604320).
Spastic ataxia 10, autosomal recessive
MedGen UID:
1851662
Concept ID:
C5882738
Disease or Syndrome
Autosomal recessive spastic ataxia-10 (SPAX10) is a slowly progressive movement disorder with a variable age at onset (range infancy to adulthood). Affected individuals present with gait abnormalities due to spasticity and hyperreflexia of the lower limbs and/or cerebellar gait and limb ataxia. More variable features may include dysarthria, saccadic eye movements, and mild cognitive impairment. Some patients show cerebellar atrophy on brain imaging. The disorder can be classified as a movement disorder on the ataxia-spasticity spectrum (ASS) (Cordts et al., 2022). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of spastic ataxia, see SPAX1 (108600).

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Opladen T, López-Laso E, Cortès-Saladelafont E, Pearson TS, Sivri HS, Yildiz Y, Assmann B, Kurian MA, Leuzzi V, Heales S, Pope S, Porta F, García-Cazorla A, Honzík T, Pons R, Regal L, Goez H, Artuch R, Hoffmann GF, Horvath G, Thöny B, Scholl-Bürgi S, Burlina A, Verbeek MM, Mastrangelo M, Friedman J, Wassenberg T, Jeltsch K, Kulhánek J, Kuseyri Hübschmann O; International Working Group on Neurotransmitter related Disorders (iNTD)
Orphanet J Rare Dis 2020 May 26;15(1):126. doi: 10.1186/s13023-020-01379-8. PMID: 32456656Free PMC Article
Larson ST, Wilbur J
Am Fam Physician 2020 Jan 15;101(2):95-108. PMID: 31939642
Tilikete C, Vighetto A
Curr Opin Neurol 2011 Feb;24(1):38-43. doi: 10.1097/WCO.0b013e328341e3b5. PMID: 21102332

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Heffez DS, Broderick J, Connor M, Mitchell M, Galezowska J, Golchini R, Ghorai J
Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2020 Jul;162(7):1531-1538. Epub 2019 Dec 24 doi: 10.1007/s00701-019-04171-1. PMID: 31873796
Cao J, Liu Y, Wang Y, Zhao L, Wang W, Zhang M, Wang L
World Neurosurg 2019 Aug;128:e782-e786. Epub 2019 May 9 doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2019.04.254. PMID: 31078802
Chaiyamongkol W, Laohawiriyakamol T, Tangtrakulwanich B, Tanutit P, Bintachitt P, Siribumrungwong K
Clin Spine Surg 2017 Nov;30(9):E1315-E1320. doi: 10.1097/BSD.0000000000000412. PMID: 27404855
Grijalva RA, Hsu FP, Wycliffe ND, Tsao BE, Williams P, Akpolat YT, Cheng WK
Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2015 Apr 1;40(7):475-9. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000000794. PMID: 25608244
Houten JK, Noce LA
J Neurosurg Spine 2008 Sep;9(3):237-42. doi: 10.3171/SPI/2008/9/9/237. PMID: 18928217

Diagnosis

Cao J, Liu Y, Wang Y, Zhao L, Wang W, Zhang M, Wang L
World Neurosurg 2019 Aug;128:e782-e786. Epub 2019 May 9 doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2019.04.254. PMID: 31078802
Chaiyamongkol W, Laohawiriyakamol T, Tangtrakulwanich B, Tanutit P, Bintachitt P, Siribumrungwong K
Clin Spine Surg 2017 Nov;30(9):E1315-E1320. doi: 10.1097/BSD.0000000000000412. PMID: 27404855
Grijalva RA, Hsu FP, Wycliffe ND, Tsao BE, Williams P, Akpolat YT, Cheng WK
Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2015 Apr 1;40(7):475-9. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000000794. PMID: 25608244
Houten JK, Noce LA
J Neurosurg Spine 2008 Sep;9(3):237-42. doi: 10.3171/SPI/2008/9/9/237. PMID: 18928217
Cook CE, Hegedus E, Pietrobon R, Goode A
Phys Ther 2007 Sep;87(9):1233-42. Epub 2007 Jul 17 doi: 10.2522/ptj.20060150. PMID: 17636158

Therapy

Yang HS, Oh YM, Eun JP
Medicine (Baltimore) 2016 Feb;95(6):e2797. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000002797. PMID: 26871842Free PMC Article
Deng ZL, Chu L, Chen L, Yang JS
Spine J 2016 May;16(5):659-66. Epub 2016 Feb 2 doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2016.01.187. PMID: 26850173
Dimar JR 2nd, Bratcher KR, Brock DC, Glassman SD, Campbell MJ, Carreon LY
Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ) 2009 Jul;38(7):E123-8. PMID: 19714281

Prognosis

Rathod TN, Marathe NA, Sathe AH, Mohanty SS, Mallepally AR
World Neurosurg 2021 Jan;145:19-24. Epub 2020 Sep 3 doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.08.220. PMID: 32891849
Cao J, Liu Y, Wang Y, Zhao L, Wang W, Zhang M, Wang L
World Neurosurg 2019 Aug;128:e782-e786. Epub 2019 May 9 doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2019.04.254. PMID: 31078802
Chaiyamongkol W, Laohawiriyakamol T, Tangtrakulwanich B, Tanutit P, Bintachitt P, Siribumrungwong K
Clin Spine Surg 2017 Nov;30(9):E1315-E1320. doi: 10.1097/BSD.0000000000000412. PMID: 27404855
Grijalva RA, Hsu FP, Wycliffe ND, Tsao BE, Williams P, Akpolat YT, Cheng WK
Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2015 Apr 1;40(7):475-9. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000000794. PMID: 25608244
Glaser JA, Curé JK, Bailey KL, Morrow DL
Iowa Orthop J 2001;21:49-52. PMID: 11813951Free PMC Article

Clinical prediction guides

Cao J, Liu Y, Wang Y, Zhao L, Wang W, Zhang M, Wang L
World Neurosurg 2019 Aug;128:e782-e786. Epub 2019 May 9 doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2019.04.254. PMID: 31078802
Chaiyamongkol W, Laohawiriyakamol T, Tangtrakulwanich B, Tanutit P, Bintachitt P, Siribumrungwong K
Clin Spine Surg 2017 Nov;30(9):E1315-E1320. doi: 10.1097/BSD.0000000000000412. PMID: 27404855
Grijalva RA, Hsu FP, Wycliffe ND, Tsao BE, Williams P, Akpolat YT, Cheng WK
Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2015 Apr 1;40(7):475-9. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000000794. PMID: 25608244
Annaswamy TM, Sakai T, Goetz LL, Pacheco FM, Ozarkar T
PM R 2012 Jul;4(7):498-503. Epub 2012 Apr 28 doi: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2012.02.019. PMID: 22543037
Houten JK, Noce LA
J Neurosurg Spine 2008 Sep;9(3):237-42. doi: 10.3171/SPI/2008/9/9/237. PMID: 18928217

Recent systematic reviews

Fogarty A, Lenza E, Gupta G, Jarzem P, Dasgupta K, Radhakrishna M
Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2018 Dec 1;43(23):1664-1669. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000002697. PMID: 29668564

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