The comparison of general movements assessment and neurological examination during early infancy

Abstract

This prospective single-blinded study was performed to evaluate general movements (GMs) in group of high-risk, low-birth-weight and preterm infants and to compare results with neurologic examination. All infants' neurologic examinations, Gross Motor Function Measurement (GMFM) and Bayley-III Scale were performed at the corrected age of 12 months. A total of 22 infants were included. Eight infants (group-1) (mean: 31.6±3.29 weeks, range: 25-36 weeks) had normal GMs in all recordings and were ultimately evaluated as "normal"; 12 (group-2) (mean: 31.6±3.29 weeks, range:2 5-35 weeks) had abnormal GMs during writhing movements period but had normal GMs in subsequent recordings and were evaluated as "normal"; and 2 infants (group-3) (mean:29.5±7.78 weeks, range:24-35 weeks) with consistent abnormal GMs who were evaluated as "abnormal." Complete agreement (kappa=1) was found between GMs and neurologic examination and significant agreement between GMs and cranial ultrasonography (kappa=0.76). When results of GMFM and Bayley-III were compared; statistically significant differences were found between group-1 and group-2 in "standing" parameter of GMFM (p<0.05) and "cognitive" parameter of Bayley-III (p<0.05). GMs assessment can help determine neurologic disorders in high-risk infant populations as an adjunct to other diagnostic techniques.

General movements assessment and Alberta Infant Motor Scale in neurodevelopmental outcome of preterm infants

“…29 In Turkey, a prospective single-blinded study was done with 22 preterm infants that supported high consistency between fidgety movements and neurologic outcomes. 30 Fuentefria et al 3 reviewed 23 studies including preterm infants and reported that the AIMS assessment in infants varied from 5 months until 18 months. These studies showed significant differences in motor developmental delay between preterm and full-term infants, with a description of lower gross scores in the AIMS results for preterm infants.…”