THE PRETERM INFANT
Prof. Dr. R Harihara Prakash, MPT (Paed. Neuro)
Definition by GESTATIONAL AGE BIRTH WEIGHT
WHO definition:
Less than 37 weeks gestation
LBW: < 2500 gms
VLBW: < 1500 gms
ELBW: < 1000 gms
Infant born before:
37 completed gestational weeks – preterm
32 completed gestational weeks – very preterm
28 completed gestational weeks – extremely preterm
Lower the gestational age,
more immature is the infant.
ETIOLOGY
1. PEMATURITY:
TRAUMA AT DELIVERY
AFTER BIRTH DUE TO IMMATURE
RESPIRATORY AND CVS
2. ASPHYXIA:
ACCIDENTS AT BIRTH
KNOTTED UMBLICAL CORD
CORD AROUND NECK
PROLAPSED CORD
HEMIPLEGIA
1. Hemiplegic children become
independent walkers by age 3.
2. Sensory deficits and learning
disability add to movement
problem.
3. Children adopt compensatory
pattern.
4. Difficulty in having midline
orientation.
DIPLEGIA
1. Requires walking aids. Can usually walk by the age of 4 to 7.
2. Hand dexterity is impaired.
3. Children have difficult writing and other tasks requiring fine
motor control.
4. Surgery may be required for contractures and deformities.
QUADRIPLEGIA
1. Mobility is major problem.
2. All four limbs are affected.
3. Poor muscle endurance.
4. Difficulty maintaining static and dynamic
posture
SPASTIC
DISORDER OF TONE
CAUSED BY DEMAGE TO UMN OR ALONG
PATHWAYS
INCREASED DTR AND EXTENSOR PLANTER
RESPONSES
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SPASTICITY
AND DYSTONIA
Spasticity Dystonia
Examination You feel You see
Tendon
reflexes
Increased Generally
normal
Clonus Present Absent
Pathological
reflexes
Present Rare
ATAXIC
CAUSED BY DEMAGE TO CEREBELLUM OR ITS PATHWAYS.
SIGNS:
i. HYPOTONIA
ii. DISTURBANCE OF BALANCE
iii. INCORDINATION
iv.INTENTION TREMORS
v. DYSARTHRIA
vi. NYSTAGMUS
EXTRAPYRAMIDAL
CLINICAL MENIFESTATION:
i. DYSKINESIA
ii.DYSTONIA
iii.TREMORS
iv.RIGIDITY
• ARMS, LEGS, NECK AND TRUNK INVOLVED
• 30% OF PATIENTS
• MR AND HEARING DEFICITS MAY BE PRESENT.
COMMON SITES FOR CONTRACTURES
Upper extremity Lower extremity
Pronator Hip adductor – flexor
Wrist and finger flexor Knee flexor
Thumb adductor Ankle plantar flexor
COMMON SITES OF DEFORMITY
Place Deformity
Spine Scoliosis, kyphosis
Hip Subluxation, dislocation
Femur and tibia Internal or external torsion
Foot Equinus, valgus, varus
SPINAL DEFORMITIES
SPINAL DEFORMITY OCCURS IN
Scoliosis Total body involved spastic
and dystonia
Kyphosis (thoracolumbar) Patients with no sitting
balance
Kyphosis (lumbar) Patients with hamstring
contracture
Hyperlordosis (lumbar) Ambulatory patients with hip
flexion contractures
SPINAL DEFORMITIES
Long C shaped hyperkyphosis in
the child with weak spinal extensor
muscles.
Hamstring spasticity causes
posterior pelvic tilt and sactal
sitting resulting in lumbar kyphosis.