Lhermitte sign (spinal cord)

Changed by Henry Knipe, 10 Jan 2018

Updates to Article Attributes

Body was changed:

Lhermitte sign or the barber chair phenomenon is an electrical shock sensation running down the spine and into the limb on neck flexion. It suggests compression of the upper cervical spinal cord and/or brainstem.

Pathology

It is typically seen with multiple sclerosis but is also associated with other pathologies of the dorsal columns of the spinal cord:

History and etymology

It is named after Jacques Jean Lhermitte (1877-1959), French neurologist and neuropsychiatrist.

  • -<p><strong>Lhermitte sign</strong> or the <strong>barber chair phenomenon</strong> is an electrical shock sensation running down the spine and into the limb on neck flexion. It suggests compression of the upper cervical spinal cord and/or brainstem.</p><p>It is typically seen with <a href="/articles/multiple-sclerosis">multiple sclerosis</a> but is also associated with other pathologies of the dorsal columns of the <a href="/articles/spinal-cord">spinal cord</a>:</p><ul>
  • +<p><strong>Lhermitte sign</strong> or the <strong>barber chair phenomenon</strong> is an electrical shock sensation running down the spine and into the limb on neck flexion. It suggests compression of the upper cervical spinal cord and/or brainstem.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>It is typically seen with <a href="/articles/multiple-sclerosis">multiple sclerosis</a> but is also associated with other pathologies of the dorsal columns of the <a href="/articles/spinal-cord">spinal cord</a>:</p><ul>
  • -<a href="/articles/cervical-spondylosis">cervical spondylosis</a>: e.g. after a fracture <sup>3</sup>
  • +<a href="/articles/cervical-spondylosis">cervical spondylosis</a>, e.g. after a fracture <sup>3</sup>
  • -<a href="/articles/vitamin-b12">vitamin B12</a> deficiency</li>
  • +<a title="Vitamin B12" href="/articles/vitamin-b12">vitamin B12</a> deficiency</li>

Tags changed:

  • cases

Systems changed:

  • Central Nervous System
  • Spine

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