Interpretation
The Babinski sign can indicate upper motor neuron lesion constituting damage to the corticospinal tract. Occasionally, a pathological plantar reflex is the first (and only) indication of a serious disease process and a clearly abnormal plantar reflex often prompts detailed neurological investigations, including CT scanning of the brain or MRI of the spine, as well as lumbar puncture for the study of cerebrospinal fluid.
Babinski sign is an up-turning or extensor plantar response. Modifiers "upgoing, "downgoing, "positive," or "negative" should not be applied. The phrase "negative Babinski sign" is a misnomer for a "flexor plantar response."
Read more about this topic: Plantar Reflex