Early prediction of unilateral cerebral palsy in infants at risk: MRI versus the hand assessment for infants

Background Neonates with unilateral perinatal brain injury (UPBI) are at risk for developing unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP). This study compares several predictors for USCP later in life. Methods Twenty-one preterm and 24 term born infants with UPBI were included, with an MRI scan including diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) performed at term equivalent age or around 3 months after birth, respectively. T2-weighted images and DTI-based tractography were used to measure the surface area, diameter, and fractional anisotropy (FA) of both corticospinal tracts (CSTs). The hand assessment for infants (HAI) was performed before 5, between 5 and 8 and between 8 and 12 months of (corrected) age. Asymmetry indices were derived from all techniques and related to USCP at >= 2 years of age. Results MRI measures and HAI scores were significantly lower for the affected compared to the unaffected side. Before 5 months of age, FA asymmetry on DTI yielded the highest area under the curve compared to conventional MRI and HAI. Conclusions Prediction of USCP after UPBI is reliable using asymmetry of the CST on MRI, as well as clinical hand assessment. Before 5 months of age, DTI tractography provides strongest predictive information, while HAI specifically aids to prognosis of USCP at later age points.