General movements as a predictive tool of the neurological outcome in term born infants with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.

BACKGROUND: At a time of increasing high risk neonates, an assessment method is needed that can reliably predict neurological deficits at an early age.

AIMS: The objective of this study was to determine whether the assessment of fidgety movements (FMs) will predict the neurological outcome of infants with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).

STUDY DESIGN: This study employed a prospective and descriptive plan.

SUBJECTS: The study sample consisted of 15 infants (8 male and 7 female) born at term. Video recording of FMs were analyzed at 3 to 5 months' infants, who identified with perinatal asphyxia and neonatal HIE. FMs were classified as present or absent.

OUTCOME MEASURES: At 12-18 months age, the infants' developmental outcome was classified as normal or abnormal according to the Infant Neurological International Battery test. "Abnormal outcome" was denoted as poor motor or neurological outcome such as cerebral palsy, whereas "Normal outcome" denotes normal motor and neurological outcomes.

RESULTS: The predictive values of FMs were: a sensitivity 0.80 (95% CI: 0.44-0.96), a specificity 1.00 (95% CI: 0.47-1.00), and the accuracy 0.87 (0.57 to 1.00).

CONCLUSIONS: FMs assessment improves our ability to predict later neurodevelopmental outcomes in term born children with neonatal HIE.