[Neurological follow-up of newborn infants at risk for cerebral palsy]. / Surveillance neurologique des nouveau-nés à risque d'infirmité motrice cérébrale.

ABSTRACT

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 can 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 not 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.