Article

AIM: To elucidate the relation between motor impairment and other developmental
deficits in very preterm-born children without disabling cerebral palsy and
term-born comparison children at 5 years of (corrected) age. METHOD: In a
prospective cohort study, 165 children (81 very preterm-born and 84
term-born)were assessed with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children - 2nd
edition, Touwen's neurological examination, the Wechsler Preschool and Primary
Scale of Intelligence, processing speed and visuomotor coordination tasks of the
Amsterdam Neuropsychological Tasks, and the Strengths and Difficulties
Questionnaire. RESULTS: Motor impairment (</=15th centile) occurred in 32% of the
very preterm-born children compared with 11% of their term-born peers (p=0.001).
Of the very preterm-born children with motor impairment, 58% had complex minor
neurological dysfunctions, 54% had low IQ, 69% had slow processing speed, 58% had
visuomotor coordination problems, and 27%, 50%,and 46% had conduct, emotional,
and hyperactivity problems respectively. Neurological outcome (odds ratio
[OR]=41.7, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 7.5-232.5) and Full-scale IQ(OR=7.3, 95%
CI 1.9-27.3) were significantly and independently associated with motor
impairment. Processing speed (OR=4.6, 95% CI 1.8-11.6) and attention (OR=3.2, 95%
CI1.3-7.9) were additional variables associated with impaired manual dexterity.
These four developmental deficits mediated the relation between preterm birth and
motor impairment. INTERPRETATION: Complex minor neurological dysfunctions, low
IQ, slow processing speed,and hyperactivity/inattention should be taken into
account when very preterm-born children are referred for motor impairment.

Langue : ANGLAIS