title: Neonatal hypertonia - a diagnostic challenge.
abstract: In comparison to hypotonia, hypertonia is less commonly expressed in the neonatal period. The scientific literature on the causes of neonatal hypertonia is scant, with no suggested diagnostic algorithm easily available to clinicians. Aetiologies include conditions affecting the central nervous system and spine, and rare peripheral neuromuscular disorders leading to hypertonia. Aetiology onset may be antepartum, peripartum with either transient hypertonia or persistent hypertonia which may appear later, or from a postnatal event/disease. This review discusses neonatal hypertonia and a diagnostic approach to neonatal hypertonia is suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Neurology, Sheffield Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: Anthony R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Neurodisability, Sheffield Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Ryegate Children's Centre, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: Ruchi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Neurology, Sheffield Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Rittey
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Neurology, Sheffield Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: Santosh R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Mordekar