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Updated: Oct 13, 2025
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Published on: September 17, 2013
The Effects of Preterm Birth on Musculoskeletal Health-Related Disorders
Florian Schachinger1, Sebastian Farr1
1Department of Pediatric Orthopaedics and Foot and Ankle Surgery, Orthopaedic Hospital Speising, Speisingerstrasse 109, A-1130 Vienna, Austria.
Insights
Preterm birth increases risks for musculoskeletal disorders like cerebral palsy and fractures due to metabolic issues. Early orthopedic intervention is crucial for managing these lifelong conditions in premature infants.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Neonatology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Preterm birth affects approximately 10% of neonates, with increasing survival rates necessitating lifelong medical care.
- Musculoskeletal disorders are common in premature infants, impacting their quality of life and requiring specialized management.
- Orthopedic surgeons play a vital role in addressing the physical challenges faced by these patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of common musculoskeletal disorders linked to preterm birth.
- To critically evaluate current diagnostic standards for these conditions.
- To discuss contemporary treatment algorithms for managing orthopedic issues in premature infants.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing studies on preterm birth and musculoskeletal conditions.
- Analysis of diagnostic approaches for conditions such as cerebral palsy and metabolic bone disease.
- Discussion of established and emerging treatment strategies.
Main Results:
- Preterm birth is associated with significant orthopedic challenges, including cerebral palsy and fractures from calcium/phosphorus dysregulation.
- These conditions present with diverse clinical manifestations, underscoring the need for multidisciplinary care.
- Early management focuses on improving physical and neurological function to prevent secondary orthopedic complications.
Conclusions:
- Multidisciplinary cooperation and parental support are essential for optimal outcomes in premature infants with orthopedic issues.
- Early diagnosis and intervention are key to mitigating the long-term impact of preterm birth-related musculoskeletal disorders.
- This review highlights the importance of updated diagnostic and treatment protocols for orthopedic care in this vulnerable population.
Abstract:
Preterm birth is associated with various diseases and conditions which demand multidisciplinary medical care. Approximately 10% of all neonates are born prematurely with an increasing survival rate in almost all Western countries. This ongoing, yet desirable trend is creating new challenges for sufficient medical treatment regimens, which should be upheld throughout the patients' lives. Orthopedic surgeons are focused on musculoskeletal disorders and the improvement of patients' ability to cope with the challenges of everyday life. The most common conditions associated with preterm birth are cerebral palsy and a dysregulation of the calcium/phosphorus metabolism, which may lead to fractures. These diseases may vary greatly in their organic manifestation and clinical presentation. This demands multidisciplinary cooperation and parental support. Clinical management is aimed on the early enhancement of a patient's physical, as well as neurological condition, and to prevent the development of secondary musculoskeletal disorders. In this article, we give an overview of the current literature on the most common musculoskeletal disorders associated with preterm birth and critically discuss state of the art diagnostic standards and treatment algorithms.
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