Neurological examination combined with brain MRI or cranial US improves prediction of neurological outcome in preterm infants

Validation of an MRI Brain Injury and Growth Scoring System in Very Preterm Infants Scanned at 29- to 35-Week Postmenstrual Age

“…41,42 A combination of TEA MR imaging findings and 3-month CA general movement assessment demonstrates improved predictive validity over TEA MR imaging alone, [43][44][45] so evaluation of the relationships between this early MR imaging scoring system and concurrent clinical measures and the combination of early MR imaging and clinical measures to predict later outcomes is warranted.…”

The motor profile of preterm infants at 11 y of age

“…The existing data suggest that motor impairment in children with perinatal adversities is especially related to white matter abnormalities MRI (15). We have previously shown the predictive value of structural brain MRI at term age for neurosensory, cognitive and neurological outcome in very preterm born children at 2, 5, and 11 y of age (16)(17)(18). A recent study did not find correlations between brain volumes at term age and the Movement ABC-2 scores at age 5.5 y (19).…”

“…The reproducibility of these measurements was assessed by repeated volume measurement of 20 children, performed by another neuroradiologist, who was blinded for the results of the first measurement. These methods have been previously described in detail (16)(17)(18)20,25).…”

Computer-based video analysis identifies infants with absence of fidgety movements

“…Prognostic models based on gestational age, neonatal morbidities and therapeutic interventions like the use of steroids in the neonatal period (4), as well as neurological assessment tools (5,6), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (7) or a combination of these (8,9), may be used to predict outcomes in high-risk infants. A common finding is that accuracy of neurologic assessment increases with age on assessment, delaying interventions beyond the time when brain plasticity is assumed to be at its highest (10,11).…”