Abstract
Objective
To describe the findings of short Hammersmith Neonatal Neurologic examination (HNNE) in preterm small for gestational age (SGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants at term equivalent age (TEA) and to correlate it with the global score of Hammersmith Infant Neurologic Examination (HINE) performed at 4–6 months of corrected age.
Methods
This prospective cohort study was conducted at the high risk follow-up clinic of our center. 52 preterm infants born <35 weeks gestation were examined using HNNE at TEA and followed-up till 4–6 months of corrected age to estimate HINE.
Results
20 infants (38.5%) had warning signs and 9 (17.3%) had abnormal signs on short HNNE. 12 (37.5%) AGA infants and 6 (30%) SGA infants had global score <65 at mean corrected age (SD) of 4.3 (0.7) weeks and 4.5 (0.8) weeks, respectively. Very preterm, birth weight <1000 g and SGA was significantly associated with global scores <65.
Conclusion
Early identification of warning signs among SGA infants using Short HNNE screening at TEA can be useful to initiate early intervention. There was no statistically significant difference in global scores by HINE among AGA and SGA infants in early infancy.
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Contributors: MB: designed and conducted the study, analyzed and interpreted the data, drafted the manuscript. DM: substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work, interpretation of data for the work and revising the manuscript critically. Both authors approved the version to be published and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.
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Ethics clearance: EIC, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Institutional Ethics Committee on Human subjects’ research; No. MDC/DOME/226 dated Dec 28, 2019.
Competing interests: None stated.
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Bhandankar, M., Metgud, D. Warning Signs on Short Hammersmith Neonatal Neurological Examination and Correlation With Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination Global Score in Preterm Infants: A Prospective Cohort Study. Indian Pediatr 60, 637–640 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-023-2961-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-023-2961-7