Clinical course of asymmetric motor performance and deformational plagiocephaly in very preterm infants.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To describe the clinical courses of positional preference and deformational plagiocephaly up to 6 months corrected age (CA) in infants born at gestational age <30 weeks or birth weight <1000 g, and to explore predictive factors for the persistence of these phenomena.

STUDY DESIGN:

A total of 120 infants were examined 3 times each. The presence of deformational plagiocephaly and a score of 0-6 on an asymmetry performance scale served as outcome measures at 6 months CA. Predictive factors were determined using regression analysis.

RESULTS:

The prevalence of a positional preference of the head was 65.8% (79 of 120) at term-equivalent age (TEA) and 36.7% (44 of 120) at 3 months CA and that of deformational plagiocephaly was 30% (36 of 120) at TEA and 50% (60 of 120) at 3 months CA. At 6 months CA, 15.8% of the infants (19 of 120) scored ≥ 2 of a possible 6 on the asymmetry performance scale and 23.3% (28 of 120) had deformational plagiocephaly. Sleeping in the supine position was predictive of an asymmetric motor performance at 6 months CA. Chronic lung disease and/or slow gross motor maturation at 3 months CA predicted the persistence of deformational plagiocephaly.

CONCLUSION:

Infants born very preterm may develop deformational plagiocephaly. A positional preference of the head at TEA seems to be a normal aspect of these infants' motor repertoire, with limited ability to predict persistence of an asymmetric motor performance. The decreased prevalence of deformational plagiocephaly between 3 and 6 months CA indicates an optimistic course. Infants with a history of chronic lung disease and/or slow gross motor maturation merit timely intervention.

• Authors: Jacqueline Nuysink, Maria J C Eijsermans, Ingrid C van Haastert, Corine Koopman-Esseboom, Paul J M Helders, Linda S de Vries, Janjaap van der Net
• Journal: The Journal of pediatrics (J Pediatr) Vol. 163 Issue 3 Pg. 658-65.e1 (Sep 2013) ISSN: 1097-6833 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23706356 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Infant
• Infant, Newborn
• Infant, Premature
• Infant, Premature, Diseases (etiology, physiopathology)
• Logistic Models
• Male
• Motor Skills (physiology)
• Multivariate Analysis
• Plagiocephaly, Nonsynostotic (etiology, physiopathology)
• Posture (physiology)
• Risk Factors
• Sleep