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Changes in Cranial Shape and Developmental Quotient at 6 Months of Age in Preterm Infants
Aya Nakanomori1,2, Hiroshi Miyabayashi1,2, Yukari Tanaka1,2
1Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan.
Insights
Preterm infants showed improving cranial shapes over the first six months. No significant link was found between cranial shape (cephalic index and cranial vault asymmetry index) and developmental quotient in these infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal research
- Developmental pediatrics
- Craniofacial development
Background:
- Preterm neonates often exhibit altered cranial shapes.
- Understanding cranial shape changes and their relation to development is crucial for preterm infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To track cranial shape changes in preterm infants from 1 to 6 months.
- To examine the correlation between developmental quotient and cranial shape at 6 months.
Main Methods:
- Prospective follow-up of hospitalized preterm infants for 6 months.
- Cephalic index (CI) and cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI) measured at 1, 3, and 6 months.
- Comparison with full-term infants and analysis of DQ using Enjoji Scale.
Main Results:
- Cephalic index significantly increased with age in preterm infants (p < 0.01).
- Dolichocephaly prevalence at 6 months did not significantly differ from full-term infants (15.4% vs. 4.5%, p = 0.08).
- No significant correlation was found between CI or CVAI and developmental quotient at 6 months.
Conclusions:
- Cranial shape, specifically dolichocephaly, improves in preterm infants by 6 months.
- No association exists between cranial shape and developmental quotient in preterm infants at 6 months.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in cranial shape among preterm neonates aged 1-6 months and the relationship between developmental quotient (DQ) and cranial shape at 6 months of age. Preterm infants who were hospitalized in our hospital were prospectively followed for 6 months. The cephalic index (CI) and cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI) were evaluated at 1 (T1), 3 (T2), and 6 months (T3) of age and compared with those of the full-term infants. The relationship between CI or CVAI and DQ at T3 was analyzed using the Enjoji Scale of Infant Analytical Development. A total of 26 participants born at 34.7 ± 1.9 weeks of gestation were included. The CI increased with age (T1: 77.2%, T2: 82.9%, T3: 85.4%, p < 0.01). The prevalence of dolichocephaly at T3 did not significantly differ from that in full-term infants (15.4% vs. 4.5%, p = 0.08). CVAI did not significantly differ between preterm and full-term infants. The DQ showed no significant correlation with either the CI or CVAI (correlation coefficients: 0.23 for CI, -0.01; CVAI). Dolichocephaly improved over time in preterm infants and no relationship between cranial shape and development was observed in preterm infants at 6 months of age.
