Effect of ultra-early intervention of NDT therapy on nerve and motor development in infants at high risk of cerebral palsy

Introduction:
The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of ultra-early intervention of nerve and motor development in infants at high risk of cerebral palsy.

Material and methods:
One hundred and twenty cases of infants born in The Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from January 2017 to January 2019 and diagnosed with high risk of cerebral palsy were included in the observation group. In addition, 120 cases of infants at high risk of cerebral palsy (three to five months old) who were admitted to this hospital during the same period were included in the control group, and 120 healthy infants born in the same hospital were included in the healthy group. Intervention was performed on the observation group after diagnosis (within seven days of birth), mainly using neurodevelopmental therapy (NDT). Children in the control group underwent intervention after diagnosis (at three to five months old) using the same measures. The healthy group underwent no intervention. Changes in various indicators were compared among the observation group, healthy group, and control group.

Results:
At baseline and at three months, the developmental quotient (DQ) at all functional areas, total DQ, and GESELL development scale (GDS) scores were significantly lower in the observation and control groups than in the healthy group (p < 0.05). At six months, 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months, the DQ at all functional areas, total DQ, and GDS (adaptability, gross motor, fine motor, language, personal social interaction) scores in the observation and control groups were significantly lower than those in the healthy group (p < 0.05). However, the observation group scores were significantly higher than the control group scores (p < 0.05). In the observation group, the normalisation rate was higher than in the control group, and the incidence rate of cerebral palsy and full developmental delay was lower than in the control group (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:
Ultra-early diagnosis and NDT intervention can significantly accelerate the motor development of infants at high risk of cerebral palsy. The earlier, the better. Ultra-early intervention can promote the normalisation of infants at high risk of cerebral palsy and significantly reduce the risk of progression to cerebral palsy.