The importance of assessing general motor activity in premature infants for predicting neurological outcomes

Dragan Zlatanovic; Hristina Čolović; Vesna Živković; Anita Stanković; Milica Kostić; Jelena Vučić; Tatjana Tošić

doi:10.5114/fn.2022.119593

eISSN: 1509-572x
ISSN: 1641-4640

Folia Neuropathologica

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4/2022
vol. 60

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abstract:

Original paper

The importance of assessing general motor activity in premature infants for predicting neurological outcomes

Dragan Zlatanovic

¹

,

Hristina Čolović

¹

,

Vesna Živković

¹

,

Anita Stanković

¹

,

Milica Kostić

¹

,

Jelena Vučić

²

,

Tatjana Tošić

³

Clinic for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University Clinical Centre Niš, Serbia
Children’s Hospital, Department of Neonatology, University Clinical Center Niš, Serbia
Children’s Hospital, Department of Neurology, University Clinical Center Niš, Serbia

Folia Neuropathol 2022; 60 (4): 427-435

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/fn.2022.119593

Online publish date: 2022/09/26

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Introduction
Conventional methods of neurological assessment of infants can detect nervous system damage, but also have a weakness, i.e., the inability to make predictions for neurological deficits. Prechtl’s general movement assessment is a diagnostic tool for the functional assessment of young nervous system. The aim of the study was to assess the quality of spontaneous motor activity in preterm newborns as well as to determine the neurological outcome at the age of 24 months. After that, the predictive value of spontaneous motor activity for neuro-developmental outcome at the age of 24 months was determined.

Material and methods
The study included 160 pre-terms children, and designed as a prospective clinical study. Observation of spontaneous motor activity was performed according to the principles of Prechtl’s method.

Results
Spontaneous motor activity was observed in three periods for each newborn: within 5 days of birth, in the period of 44-46 gestation weeks, and in the period of 50-54 gestation weeks of post-menstrual age. Neurological outcome was assessed at the age of 24 months, and was classified as: normal finding, minimal neurological dysfunction, and cerebral palsy. All preterms, who presented normal patterns of spontaneous movements in neonatal and infant periods had a normal neurological functional outcomes at the age of 24 months. Newborns with pathological patterns of movement (cramped synchronized and absence of fidgety movements) in neonate and infant periods in the final outcomes had minimal neurological dysfunction or cerebral palsy.

Conclusions
Assessment of general movement in preterms is a valuable method in prediction of dysfunctions in later neurological development. Early detection of symptoms of minimal neurological deficit and cerebral palsy is of crucial importance since it enables timely inclusion of children into neuro-developmental treatment.

keywords:

The importance of assessing general motor activity in premature infants for predicting neurological outcomes

Dragan Zlatanovic 1 , Hristina Čolović 1 , Vesna Živković 1 , Anita Stanković 1 , Milica Kostić 1 , Jelena Vučić 2 , Tatjana Tošić 3

preterm infants, general movements, Prechtl’s method, neuro-developmental outcome

Dragan Zlatanovic

¹

,

Hristina Čolović

¹

,

Vesna Živković

¹

,

Anita Stanković

¹

,

Milica Kostić

¹

,

Jelena Vučić

²

,

Tatjana Tošić

³