title: Predicting motor development in very preterm infants at 12 months' corrected age: the role of qualitative magnetic resonance imaging and general movements assessments.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to compare the predictive value of qualitative MRI of brain structure at term and general movements assessments at 1 and 3 months' corrected age for motor outcome at 1 year's corrected age in very preterm infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-six very preterm infants (<30 weeks' gestation) underwent MRI at term-equivalent age, were evaluated for white matter abnormality, and had general movements assessed at 1 and 3 months' corrected age. Motor outcome at 1 year's corrected age was evaluated with the Alberta Infant Motor Scale, the Neuro-Sensory Motor Development Assessment, and the diagnosis of cerebral palsy by the child's pediatrician.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 1 year of age, the Alberta Infant Motor Scale categorized 30 (35%) infants as suspicious/abnormal; the Neuro-Sensory Motor Development Assessment categorized 16 (18%) infants with mild-to-severe motor dysfunction, and 5 (6%) infants were classified with cerebral palsy. White matter abnormality at term and general movements at 1 and 3 months significantly correlated with Alberta Infant Motor Scale and Neuro-Sensory Motor Development Assessment scores at 1 year. White matter abnormality and general movements at 3 months were the only assessments that correlated with cerebral palsy. All assessments had 100% sensitivity in predicting cerebral palsy. White matter abnormality demonstrated the greatest accuracy in predicting combined motor outcomes, with excellent levels of specificity (>90%); however, the sensitivity was low. On the other hand, general movements assessments at 1 month had the highest sensitivity (>80%); however, the overall accuracy was relatively low.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neuroimaging (MRI) and functional (general movements) examinations have important complementary roles in predicting motor development of very preterm infants.
authors.affiliation: Victorian Infant Brain Studies, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, 2nd Floor, Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville 3052, Melbourne, Australia. alicia.spittle@rch.org.au
authors.forename: Alicia J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Spittle
authors.forename: Roslyn N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.forename: Terrie E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Inder
authors.forename: Lex W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Doyle
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002657:Child Development; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D009068:Movement; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests