Is popliteal angle measurement useful in early identification of cerebral palsy?
The ability of the popliteal angle test to identify infants with cerebral palsy was evaluated in a population considered to be at increased risk for early childhood impairment. The proportion of infants failing the test increased with decreasing gestational age. Over-all, the test had a sensitivity of 51 per cent and a specificity of 92 per cent: it was more sensitive but less specific for infants less than 30 weeks gestation. Only 12 per cent of infants who failed the test were subsequently diagnosed as having cerebral palsy, but the test had a high negative predictive value (99 per cent). Health visitors were asked to identify infants about whom they felt a general concern, regardless of the test results: their increased concern about an infant proved considerably more sensitive than the popliteal angle test.
Johnson
A
A
Maternity Department, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford.
Ashurst
H
H
D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003152:Community Health Nursing; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000379:methods; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005269:Femur / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D013977:Tibia / Q000033:anatomy & histology*