Related Experiment Videos
Effect of neonatal posture on later lower limb rotation and gait in premature infants
K Katz1, R Krikler, E Wielunsky
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Beilinson Medical Center, Petah Tiqva, Israel.
Insights
Premature infants born at 30 weeks or less, nursed prone, often exhibit outtoeing gait. This gait, linked to external tibial rotation, was observed up to age six in a study of 265 children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Orthopedics
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Premature birth (gestational age ≤ 30 weeks) is associated with various developmental challenges.
- Prone positioning is a common supportive measure for preterm infants.
- Gait abnormalities can arise from neuromuscular and musculoskeletal adaptations in early development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term rotational profile and gait characteristics of children born extremely preterm.
- To determine the prevalence and underlying causes of outtoeing gait in this cohort.
- To compare gait parameters with the general population.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal observational study of 265 children born at ≤ 30 weeks gestational age.
- Assessment of gait and rotational profiles between ages 4-8 years.
- Measurement of thigh-foot angles to assess tibial rotation.
Main Results:
- A marked outtoeing gait was observed in the cohort up to age 6 years.
- Significantly higher positive thigh-foot angles were recorded compared to the general population.
- These findings suggest external tibial rotation as the primary cause of the observed outtoeing gait.
Conclusions:
- Extremely preterm infants nursed prone demonstrate a persistent outtoeing gait pattern.
- External tibial rotation is a significant factor contributing to gait abnormalities in this population.
- Early identification and understanding of these gait deviations are crucial for potential interventions.
Abstract:
The rotational profile of 265 children age 4-8 years who were born at the gestational age of less than or equal to 30 weeks and were nursed prone for several months after birth showed a marked outtoeing gait up to the age of 6 years. Their positive thigh-foot angles were significantly higher than those of the general population. These angles indicate that their outtoeing gaits were caused by marked external tibial rotation.