title: Neonatal neurological examination during the first 6h after birth.
abstract: Few neurological assessments are easily performed during the first 6h after birth.
  
  
  
  To assess a cohort of low risk term born newborns within the first 6h and at 48h after birth using the Hammersmith Neonatal Neurological Examination.
  
  
  
  A population of low risk term born newborns was examined within 3h from birth or between 3 and 6h. Each infant was re-assessed at 48h, establishing the range and frequency distribution of neonatal neurological scores at each time point.
  
  
  
  Of the 124 full-term born newborns, 62 were assessed at 0-3h and 62 at 3-6h. All infants were re-assessed at 48h. For 23/34 of the neurological items, the range and median scores were similar across the 3 time points. In the remaining 11 items the three groups had a similar range of scores but the median scores were different with different rates of changes. In 6 of the 11 the median scores at 3-6h were similar to those observed at 48h but they appeared to be 'less mature' at 0-3h. Only in one item the median scores were consistently different at the 3 time points.
  
  
  
  Our results suggest that a neurological examination can already be reliably performed soon after birth. These findings will help in the interpretation of the few items that show changes with increasing postnatal age.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurology Unit, Catholic University, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: domenicomarco.romeo@policlinicogemelli.it.
authors.forename: Domenico M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurology Unit, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bompard
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Unit, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cocca
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Unit, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Serrao
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Unit, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Pia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: De Carolis
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Unit, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Zuppa
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurology Unit, Catholic University, Rome, Italy; National Centre of Services and Research for Prevention of Blindness and Rehabilitation of Visually Impaired, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Unit, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gallini
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurology Unit, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maddaloni
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Unit, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Costantino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurology Unit, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mercuri
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Asphyxia; Neurological examination; Newborn