NEUROLOGICAL FOLLOW-UP OF NEWBORNS AT RISK FOR CEREBRAL-PALSY

Background. - Traditional neurological examination of newborns at risk for cerebral palsy (CP) is based on periodic assessment of normal milestones so that the diagnosis of CP call be very late. A complementary neuromotor evaluation based on two motor series has been proposed in order to make possible an early affirmation of integrity of motor paths. Population and methods. - Eight hundred and seventy three infants including 371 preterms had been admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit from 1990 to 1992. Then, they were examined as outpatients by a multidisciplinary team. They were especially tested for lateral support on right and left superior limbs, alternately, and for lateral abduction reaction of each hip. Results. - Absence of manifestations of CP was noted in 87% of infants with a corrected age of 4 months; a correct prediction of future normal walking was made for all babies. Both tests could nor be correctly performed by those babies who lately developed manifestations of CP. Conclusions. - These two simple tests appear to be accurate to early predict normality.