title: Quality of general movements and the development of minor neurological dysfunction at toddler and school age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the reliability of assessing infants' general movements (GMs) using a new classification and its validity in predicting complex minor neurological dysfunction (MND) at toddler and at school age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study of two groups of infants, each consisting of a mix of low-risk and high-risk infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  University Hospital Groningen, the Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  Group A consisted of 16 low-risk and 21 high-risk infants; group B of 28 low-risk and 24 high-risk infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between term age and four months post term: multiple assessments of neurological condition by means of (a) assessment of GMs, and (b) a traditional neurological examination. GMs were classified into four classes using a standardized qualitative description: two classes of normal movements (normal-optimal and normal-suboptimal) and two classes of abnormal movements (mildly and definitely abnormal movements). Follow-up neurological examination with special attention to presence of MND was carried out in group A at 1 1/2 years, in group B at 4-9 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GMs could be assessed reliably. They were stable over age in about 60% of the infants. Both the condition of the GMs and the infant neurological condition were significantly related to neurological condition at follow-up. Best prediction of complex MND was achieved when both types of infant assessment at the age of 2-4 months post term were combined.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The assessment of GMs is a valuable tool, in particular when combined with the traditional neurological examination, to predict at early age the development of complex MND.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands. m.hadders-algra@med.rug.nl
authors.forename: Mijna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hadders-Algra
authors.forename: Annelies M C
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mavinkurve-Groothuis
authors.forename: Sabina E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Groen
authors.forename: Elisabeth F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Stremmelaar
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martijn
authors.forename: Phillipa R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Butcher
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors