[Neurological follow-up of newborn infants at risk for cerebral palsy].
BACKGROUND
Traditional neurological examination of newborns at risk for cerebral palsy (CP) is based on periodic assessment of normal milestones so that the diagnosis of CP can be very late. A complementary neuromotor evaluation based on two motor series has been proposed in order to make possible an early affirmation of integrity of motor paths.


METHODS
Eight hundred and seventy three infants including 371 preterms had been admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit from 1990 to 1992. Then, they were examined as outpatients by a multidisciplinary team. They were especially tested for lateral support on right and left superior limbs, alternately, and for lateral abduction reaction of each hip.


RESULTS
Absence of manifestations of CP was noted in 87% of infants with a corrected age of 4 months; a correct prediction of future normal walking was made for all babies. Both tests could not be correctly performed by those babies who lately developed manifestations of CP.


CONCLUSIONS
These two simple tests appear to be accurate to early predict normality.
D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors
Surveillance neurologique des nouveau-nés à risque d'infirmité motrice cérébrale.