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Transient dystonias revisited: a comparative study of preterm and term children at 2 1 / 2 years of age
Author(s) -
Vries Alies M,
Groot Laila
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
developmental medicine and child neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.658
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1469-8749
pISSN - 0012-1622
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8749.2002.tb00836.x
Subject(s) - gestational age , pediatrics , medicine , low birth weight , birth weight , psychology , pregnancy , biology , genetics
Minor neurological dysfunctions (MND) have frequently been reported as an outcome of preterm birth. Behavioural and learning difficulties are a known feature, but coordination problems are especially described in preterm infants at later ages. All preterm infants in our study were born with a gestational age of <32 weeks and a birth weight of <1500 g. The aim of the study was to determine if in a normal clinical situation, children at risk for developing coordination problems could be detected by focusing particularly on their spontaneous, although elicited, motor performance. Forty‐two children of 2 years 6 months of age were studied of whom 25 were‘low‐risk’preterm and 17 were born at term. All children had been followed up since birth. In a structured, free‐field situation the quality of body rotation, spontaneous reaching‐out, and manipulation during parts of the Bayley Developmental Test were observed and videotaped. Body rotations were scored on a 2‐point scale, and arm and hand functions on a 3‐point scale. Most preterm infants showed non‐optimal body rotations and borderline or non‐optimal arm and hand functions in contrast to most term children. A clear connection was found between less optimal body rotations and poor arm and hand functions. Retrospectively, poor arm and hand functions at 2 years 6 months seemed to be related to those at 39 weeks. At the age of 39 weeks a clear relation had been found between poor postural control (many preterm infants could not sit independently) and earlier hyperextension of the trunk at 18 weeks and quality of arm‐hand functions. In the present study at 2 years 6 months a correlation with the former hyperextension could no longer be found, but there was a significant relation between poor trunk rotation and arm and hand function and the earlier arm and hand functions at 39 weeks.