[The role of short and long latency reflexes in the small muscles of the hand in the diagnosis of movement disorders--an electrophysiology study].

EMG changes of short (SLR) and long latency reflex (LLR) responses to electric stimulation of digital nerves of the index finger were recorded from the interosseous dorsal muscle I during its slight isometric contraction. Abnormalities of SLR and LLR were found at least on one hand in 9 of 11 patients with nosologically different dysfunctions of the nervous system. SLR latency can yield information on lesions of the peripheral motoneuron. LLR latency proved to be a sensitive indicator of spinal and supraspinal lesions, and since it has also an efferent branch and, unlike SEP, it can detect also lesions of the descending corticospinal pathway. Prolonged SLR latency occurred frequently in s. m. Assessment of muscle reflexes is a valuable auxiliary method in identifying lesions of the peripheral and particularly of the central nervous system.