Predicting motor impairments among children born extremely preterm or very low birthweight

Children born very preterm and/or very low birthweight have a risk of cerebral palsy (CP) that is at least 30 times higher than that of children born at term. While CP is not the most common developmental disability found among infants born very preterm (cognitive disability is more prevalent), it is the adverse outcome most strongly associated with very preterm birth. There is some indication that the prevalence of CP among children born very preterm and/or very low birthweight has fallen over the past two decades, although conflicting data have been reported and the risk of CP remains unacceptably high. Even among children born very preterm and/or very low birthweight without CP, the risk of motor impairment is markedly increased as compared to children born at term. To enhance the quality of prenatal counselling, and the targeting of efforts to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes, parents and physicians need reliable information about prognostic factors for CP and other motor impairments among children born very preterm and/or very low birthweight.