Brain Dead

Brain dead patients can display impressive spinal reflex movements, including the dramatic "Lazarus sign" (bilateral arm flexion, shoulder adduction, raising the arms and crossing the hands). These are all ostensibly due to local spinal cord reflexes, which have become autonomous and are under no suprasegmental control. Similarly, triple flexion response in which extension of great toe is accompanied by dorsiflexion of the foot and flexion of the knee and the hip.


Bueri JA, Saposnik G, Maurino J, et al. Lazarus` sign in brain death. Mov Disord 2000;15:583-586