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Spontaneous activity in premature infants affects bone strength
Alon Eliakim1, Dan Nemet, Orit Friedland
1Department of Pediatrics, Meir Hospital, Kfar Saba, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Summary
Reduced leg movement in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants due to brain injury lowers bone strength. Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) can assess bone health in these vulnerable infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal medicine
- Pediatric orthopedics
- Biomedical engineering
Background:
- Very low birth weight (VLBW) premature infants with central nervous system pathology often exhibit reduced spontaneous leg movements.
- Bone development and mineralization are crucial in this population, with osteopenia being a significant concern.
Observation:
- Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) was used to measure the speed of sound (SOS) in the tibiae of VLBW infants with unilateral reduced leg activity.
- Measurements were compared between affected and unaffected legs, as well as against healthy premature infant controls.
Findings:
- Reduced spontaneous movement in one leg, secondary to brain insult, correlated with decreased tibial SOS on the affected side.
- Healthy control infants showed no significant difference in bone SOS between their legs.
Implications:
- Spontaneous limb movements are vital for maintaining bone structure and mineralization in VLBW infants.
- QUS shows promise as a diagnostic tool for evaluating, managing, and monitoring bone strength and osteopenia in this high-risk group.