Early motor development of premature infants with birthweight less than 2000 grams

The aim was to assess motor function during infancy in order to predict later function, mainly cerebral palsy. The neuromotor development of a population-based cohort of 209 of 236 (89%) survivors with a birthweight less than 2000 g was assessed using the Infant Neurological International Battery (INFANIB) and detailed neurological assessment. The infants were classified as being normal, dystonic, hypotonic or having suspected cerebral palsy (CP) at 4, 7, 13 and 18 mo corrected age if birthweight was less than 1500 g (n = 119) and at 7 and 13 mo if birthweight was 1500-1999 g (n = 90). Those with dystonia or suspected CP were followed until diagnosed as normal or as having CP after at least 36 mo of age. Fourteen (7%) finally developed CP. Motor function at 4 mo was inaccurate in predicting function at 7 mo and later. All who were normal at 7 mo remained normal in the follow-up period. Eight of 65 who were dystonic at 7 mo developed suspected CP, and three judged as suspected CP were eventually normal. The 14 who developed CP were judged as suspected CP (n = 5) or dystonic (n = 8) and one as hypotonic at 7 mo of age.

The specificity of motor evaluation at 7 mo corrected age regarding CP is unsatisfactory, since dystonia at this age is most often transient. A normal neuromotor assessment at 7 mo is highly predictive of subsequent normal motor function.