Neurodevelopmental outcomes in postnatal growth-restricted preterm infants with postnatal head-sparing

To compare neurodevelopmental outcomes in postnatal growth-restricted infants born <29 weeks with and without postnatal head-sparing (PHS).

We analyzed developmental outcomes at 2 years of age among postnatally growth-restricted infants with and without head-sparing. The primary outcome was Bayley III cognitive composite score; secondary outcomes included Bayley III motor composite score, moderate/severe cerebral palsy, gross motor functional classification scale level⩾2, and presence or absence of neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI).

Of 1098 infants evaluated at 18 to 22 months, 658 were postnatally growth restricted, of whom 301 had head-sparing. In the multivariate model including independent risk factors for poor growth and poor developmental outcome, infants with head-sparing had higher adjusted motor composite scores (mean difference 4.65, P<0.01), but no differences in other neurodevelopmental outcomes.

PHS is associated with improved neurodevelopmental outcome in extremely preterm infants, specifically Bayley III motor scores, but whether beneficial effects of PHS persist later in life is unknown.