Spontaneous motor activity three months after birth in comparison with clinical and ultrasound studies.
The introduction of the general movement assessment into pediatric practice as a prognostic method (HFR Prechtl, et al., 1997) has prompted the necessity of further, more extended study of spontaneous motor activity. Possible correlations of this method with the well-established diagnostic and prognostic methods in the neonatal and early post-neonatal period need also more extensive study. Fidgety movements seem to be considered the most convenient to study and of the greatest prognostic value.


OBJECTIVE
To study prospectively the spontaneous motor activity in the period of fidgety movements and compare it with the results of the clinical and ultrasound methods of investigation.


METHODS
Thirty five infants aged 0 to 3 months (7 preterm infants) referred to the Pediatric Neurology Service at Plovdiv University Clinic of Pediatrics and Medical Genetics for consultation or hospitalisation were prospectively followed up to one year of age. Fidgety movements were examined from six to 20 weeks corrected age; neurologic examination and transfontanel ultrasonography were conducted on the day of an infant's inclusion into the study, during the period of fidgety movements and between 12 to 18 months of age. The clinical and ultrasonographic findings from the neonatal period were analysed.


RESULTS
Normal fidgety movements were observed in 31 infants; four infants were with absent fidgety movements. The rate of agreement of the results was high (more than 91%, p<0.05) when presence of normal fidgety movements was correlated with absent or mild neonatal and postneonatal neurologic and ultrasonographic abnormalities, and absent fidgety movements with severe clinical and ultrasonographic abnormalities.


CONCLUSIONS
Abnormal fidgety movements are statistically significantly correlated with the grade of neonatal neurologic and ultrasonographic abnormalities and with the clinical and imaging findings during their investigations.
Ivanov
Ivan S
IS
Department of Pediatrics and Medical Genetics, Medical University-Plovdiv, Bulgaria. ivanovis@plovdiv.techno-link.com
Shukerski
Krassimir G
KG
Chepisheva
Elena V
EV
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D020820:Dyskinesias / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography