Bulbo anal reflex

FREE subscriptions for doctors and students The bulbocavernous reflex may be used as an indicator of when any recovery from spinal injury is complete. If a patient has a spinal injury then this reflex may be absent during the initial recovery phase. To test this reflex, there is an initial evaluation of anal sphincter tone by inserting a gloved, lubricated finger into the anus and noticing the amount of resistance felt. The bulbocavernous reflex can be tested with the finger still in the rectum. The glans penis or the clitoris is squeezed - alternatively, if appropriate, the examiner gives a gentle jerk on an indwelling catheter.

The bulbocavernosus reflex BCR , bulbospongiosus reflex BSR or "Osinski reflex" is a polysynaptic reflex that is useful in testing for spinal shock and gaining information about the state of spinal cord injuries SCI. This test modality is used in intraoperative neurophysiology monitoring to verify function of sensory and motor sacral roots as well as the conus medullaris. The reflex is spinal mediated and involves S2 - S4. The absence of the reflex in a person with acute paralysis from trauma indicates spinal shock whereas the presence of the reflex would indicate spinal cord severance. Typically this is one of the first reflexes to return after spinal shock.