June 3, 2002
Cramped synchronized general movements in preterm infants are an early marker for the development of cerebral palsy, according to results of a study published in the May issue of the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine.
“Consistent and predominant cramped synchronized general movements specifically predict cerebral palsy,” write Fabrizio Ferrari, MD, and colleagues from the University of Modena in Italy. “The earlier this characteristic appears, the worse is the later impairment.
” General movements are gross, complex movements involving the whole body and lasting from a few seconds to several minutes.
They appear early in gestation, at 9-10 weeks’ postmenstrual age. In 84 preterm infants with ultrasound abnormalities, the investigators serially videotaped and blindly observed general movements from birth until 56 to 60 weeks’ postmenstrual age. Consistent or predominant cramped synchronized general movements, seen in 33 infants, predicted development of cerebral palsy. The earlier that cramped synchronized general movements were observed, the worse was the neurological outcome.
In 8 infants with transient cramped synchronized character general movements, mild cerebral palsy followed if fidgety movements were absent, but development was normal in those who had fidgety movements. Consistently normal general movements in 13 infants and poor repertoire general movements in 30 infants led to normal outcomes in 84%, or to cerebral
palsy with mild motor impairment in 16%.
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