Risk factors for gross motor dysfunction of lower limbs in children

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Child Health

Background:

• Neurological development in children aged 1-3 years with lower extremity motor impairments requires careful monitoring.
• Identifying neuro-risk factors is crucial for early detection of developmental deviations and initiating timely therapeutic interventions.
• Early treatment can enhance brain plasticity and promote functional recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify risk factors associated with neurological development in children aged 1-3 years presenting with mild paraparesis affecting lower extremity motor function.
• To establish the correlation between specific pregnancy and delivery complications and the neurological development of affected children.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of medical records for 50 children aged 1-3 years with mild paraparesis.
• Evaluation of pregnancy complications, gestational age at birth, delivery methods, Apgar scores, and cranial ultrasound findings.
• Statistical analysis to identify significant risk factors.

Main Results:

• 48% of children experienced complicated pregnancies (maternal diseases, fetal growth retardation, placental immaturity).
• 26% were born preterm or post-term, and 34% had delivery complications (cesarean section, breech birth).
• Cranial ultrasound abnormalities, including periventricular and intraventricular hemorrhage, were present in 62% of children, with only 10% showing normal results.

Conclusions:

• Pregnancy and delivery complications are significant risk factors for neurological development issues in children with mild lower extremity motor impairments.
• High incidence of cranial ultrasound abnormalities highlights the vulnerability of this population to brain injury.
• Further research is warranted to explore specific interventions for mitigating these risks.