Abstract :
Keywords Extremely preterm; Extremely low birth weight; Accelerometer Highlights * General movements assessments are qualitative and therefore subject to potential bias. * Accelerometers can be used to quantify aspects of a baby's spontaneous movement. * Accelerometer measures correlate with general movements at 28- and 32-weeks postmenstrual age. * Accelerometers could be used as a screening method for abnormal general movements in preterm infants. Abstract Background Assessment of general movements (GMs) in preterm infants is qualitative and potentially subjective. Accelerometers provide quantitative data that could overcome the problems of the GMs assessment. Study aims To determine if quantitative measures (obtained from four tri-axial accelerometers) correlate with GMs assessments performed in the preterm period at 28- or 32-weeks postmenstrual age (PMA). Study design Prospective observational study. Tri-axial accelerometers were applied to the dorsum of each hand and foot at 28- and 32-weeks PMA. Simultaneous video recordings of the babies' spontaneous movements were made to assess GMs. Subjects Eligible babies were born Outcome measures GMs assessments were made offline on the video recordings. Forty-six quantitative motor parameters were calculated during the same periods of activity and compared with GMs assessments. Results At 28-weeks PMA, 24/43 (55.8 %) babies had abnormal GMs. At 32-weeks PMA, 26/57 (45.6 %) had abnormal GMs. The inter-rater reliability of the GMs was poor. When comparing MDS measures between; infants with normal and those with abnormal GMs, at 28-weeks PMA, 7/46 parameters were significantly different, and at 32-weeks PMA, 19/46 parameters were significantly different. Conclusion Isolated use of quantitative movement measures, obtained from four tri-axial accelerometers before hospital discharge, correlate with the GMs assessments at both 28-weeks and 32-weeks PMA. Accelerometers may provide a useful screening tool for abnormal GMs in preterm infants and could overcome issues with inter-rater reliability. Abbreviations ELBW, extremely low birth weight; Ch, chaotic; CS, cramped synchronised; GMs, general movements; MDS, movement detection system; PMA, postmenstrual age; PR, poor repertoire Author Affiliation: (a) Neonatal Critical Care Unit, Mater Mothers Hospital, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (b) Clinical School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia (c) Grantley Stable Neonatal Unit, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, Queensland, Australia * Corresponding author at: Department of Neonatology, Aubigny Place, Mater Mothers' Hospital, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane 4101, Queensland, Australia. Article History: Received 14 June 2022; Revised 24 July 2022; Accepted 1 October 2022 Byline: L.A. Jardine [Luke.Jardine@mater.org.au] (a,b,*), R.M. Mausling [Richard.Mausling@mater.org.au] (a,b), D. Caldararo [Deborah.Caldararo@mater.org.au] (a), P.W. Colditz [p.colditz@uq.edu.au] (b,c), M.W. Davies [Mark.Davies@health.qld.gov.au] (b,c)