Evolution of clinical method for new-born infant maturity assessment

In the routine practice of neonatology, differentiating preterm premature new-born from small-for-date (SFD) new-born infant is an essential aspect to anticipate different clinical scenarios and monitor accordingly. Clinical assessment of new-born maturity is an invincible tool in resource poor areas for the purpose, without any prior investment. Over the past decades, clinical method for new-born infant maturity assessment has evolved intricately. From defining prematures with a mere statement of birth weight to clinical assessment of new-born as per gestational age with a comprehensive scheme based on neural and physical maturity characteristics of a new-born, clinical method for new-born maturity assessment has evolved substantially to the present where we stand. A complete review on the evolutionary history of clinical method for new-born infant maturity assessment will enable researchers in this field to get acquainted with the trend of past research work in accordance to the recent advancement all over the world. In the process, the lacunae still present in this area of study can be spotted which will invite new research proposals. Looking into the recent context, clinical method for assessing new-born infant maturity is making further forward shift with an attempt to quantify neuromuscular maturity criteria with further precision and incorporation of additional criteria."What is known - What is New" (Authors' summary)What is knownNeuro-muscular and external physical characteristic assessment together has greater significance for evaluating new-born infant's maturity as per gestational age over using individual one of them.Evaluation of brain maturity through passive muscle tone assessment of new-born infants with different maneuvers has the imperative role in determining new-born infant maturity.What is newClinical method for determining new-born infant maturity as per gestational age is being made explicit with the incorporation of criteria like feeding behavior of the new-born and objective assessment of anthropometric parameters, beside neuro-muscular and external physical characteristics evaluation.Neuro-muscular maturity can be quantified further with absolute values or closer range of values of different maneuvers and signs used in the clinical method for evaluating new-born infant maturity as per gestational age with more precision.