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Updated: Jul 8, 2026
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
New scoring system for fetal neurobehavior assessed by three- and four-dimensional sonography
Asim Kurjak1, Berivoj Miskovic, Milan Stanojevic
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, University of Zagreb, Sveti Duh Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia.
Aim:
To produce a new scoring system for fetal neurobehavior based on prenatal assessment by 3D/4D sonography. We identified severely brain damaged infants and those with optimal neurological findings and compared fetal with neonatal findings.
Results:
The new scoring system was retrospectively applied in a group of 100 low-risk pregnancies. After delivery, postnatal neurological assessment was performed, and all neonates assessed as normal reached a score between 14 and 20, which we assumed to be a score of optimal neurological development. Subsequently, the same scoring system was applied in the group of 120 high-risk pregnancies in which, based on postnatal neurological findings, three subgroups of newborns were found: normal, mildly or moderately abnormal, and abnormal. Normal neonates had a prenatal score between 14 and 20, mildly or moderately abnormal neonates had a prenatal score of 5-13, whereas those infants who were assigned as neurologically abnormal had a prenatal score from 0-5.
Conclusion:
A new scoring system for the assessment of neurological status for antenatal application is proposed, similar to the neonatal optimality test of Amiel-Tison. This preliminary work may help in detecting fetal brain and neurodevelopmental alterations due to in utero brain impairment.
