NEUROLOGICAL FOLLOW-UP OF NEWBORNS AT RIS K FOR CEREBRAL-PALSY

Background. - Traditional neurological examination of newborns at risk for cerebral palsy (CP) is based on periodic assessment of normal mil estones so that the diagnosis of CP call 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 path s. Population and methods. - Eight hundred and seventy three infants i ncluding 371 preterms had been admitted to a neonatal intensive care u nit from 1990 to 1992. Then, they were examined as outpatients by a mu ltidisciplinary team. They were especially tested for lateral support on right and left superior limbs, alternately, and for lateral abducti on reaction of each hip. Results. - Absence of manifestations of CP wa s 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 test s could nor be correctly performed by those babies who lately develope d manifestations of CP. Conclusions. - These two simple tests appear t o be accurate to early predict normality.