Assessment of general movements in preterm infants as a predictor of cerebral palsy

Abstract

At present, the early identification of cerebral palsy still poses a major challenge for the health system worldwide. Great advances have been made in neonatology in reducing mortality, but not morbimortality. Cerebral palsy remains the most common sequela of all developmental disorders, especially among those born prematurely. The possibility of early detection before 5 months of age has many benefits for the child and their family, since it allows very early initiation of treatment. In this study, we describe a highly sensitive and specific tool known as Prechtl's assessment of general movements and its potential complementation with technological apps for early detection.