RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Current recommendations for early detection tools for cerebral palsy (CP) include assessments that vary in feasibility and resource requirements. The predictive value of less resource-intensive tools has not been fully explored. AIMS: To determine the predictive value of the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) at 3-4 months corrected age (CA) for CP, and whether administration of both the TIMP and the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Exam (HINE) improves early CP detection. STUDY DESIGN: Five-year retrospective observational study of infants who received the TIMP and the HINE at 3-4 months CA in a high-risk follow-up clinic. TIMP and HINE cut-off scores (alone and in combination) were compared for CP discriminatory ability. SUBJECTS: Of patients with HINE scores (n = 1389; 676 [48.7 %] female; median gestational age at birth 31 weeks [interquartile range 29-34 weeks]), 1343 had concurrent TIMP scores available. OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical diagnosis of CP. RESULTS: HINE total score <57 had optimal CP predictive value (AUC = 0.815; 77 % sensitivity; 91 % specificity) compared to optimal TIMP cut-off (1 SD below the mean, AUC = 0.71; 52 % sensitivity; 94 % specificity) and all tested TIMP and HINE combinations (all p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: HINE total score <57 at 3-4 months CA had the best CP predictive value, confirming its value absent first-line detection tools. Concurrent administration of TIMP did not improve predictive value.