['Sitting on air' in infants: a sign of simple delay in the gross motor milestones].
A delay in motor maturation of infants usually presents as late mastery of gross motor milestones, such as rolling over, sitting, crawling, standing up and walking. Because this can be a symptom of serious neuromuscular disease or cerebral palsy, parents' and doctors' concern is understandable. Three children, a girl aged 17 months, and two boys aged 20 and 18 months respectively, were referred to the paediatric outpatient department because of delayed motor development. Physical examination revealed no pathological disorder; fine motor development, social-adaptive and language behaviour were age-appropriate. All three patients showed the characteristic 'sitting on air' posture while lifted vertically. With this information the diagnosis was 'dissociation of maturation', which can be managed by watchful waiting and has an excellent prognosis. All three patients recovered spontaneously.
van der Heide
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Isala Klinieken, locatie Weezenlanden, Amalia Kinderafdeling, Postbus 10.500, 8000 GM Zwolle.
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D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D011379:Prognosis