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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Plantar response profile of high-risk infants at one year of life

D I Zafeiriou1, I G Tsikoulas, G M Kremenopoulos

  • 1First Pediatric Clinic, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. jeff@med.auth.gr

Journal of Child Neurology
|August 24, 1999
PubMed

Insights

The extensor plantar response in infants can predict cerebral palsy. This reflex, observed early, aids in the timely diagnosis of spastic cerebral palsy, crucial for intervention.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Clinical Neurology

Background:

  • The plantar reflex is a key indicator of neurological development in infants.
  • Understanding its evolution is vital for identifying neurodevelopmental abnormalities early.
  • Previous research has not fully clarified the plantar reflex profile in various infant neurodevelopmental categories.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To prospectively examine the plantar reflex profile in high-risk infants at 1 year of age.
  • To correlate plantar responses with neurodevelopmental outcomes, including cerebral palsy and developmental retardation.
  • To assess the diagnostic utility of the plantar response for early detection of spastic cerebral palsy.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective examination of plantar responses in 204 high-risk infants.
  • Follow-up evaluations at 3 years of age to categorize neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • Analysis of plantar response patterns (extensor vs. flexor, combined extensor response) in relation to diagnoses.

Main Results:

  • Neurologically normal infants showed an extensor plantar response (82.3%) at 1 month, transitioning to flexor by 9-11 months (68.5%-86.3%).
  • A combined extensor plantar response was observed in 42.9% of infants with spastic cerebral palsy as early as the first month.
  • Spastic quadriplegia and hemiplegia were more frequently associated with combined extensor responses than diplegia.

Conclusions:

  • The combined extensor plantar response is a reliable prognostic indicator for spastic cerebral palsy.
  • This reflex can facilitate earlier diagnosis of spastic cerebral palsy, even within the first month of life.
  • Early identification through plantar reflex assessment supports timely therapeutic interventions.

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