Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination global scores for predicting neurodevelopmental outcomes after 2 years of age: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Early identification of developmental issues in infants is crucial for starting rehabilitation as soon as possible. This study evaluated the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE), a simple and widely used clinical tool, to see how well it predicts long-term outcomes like atypical motor development, impaired cognitive performance, atypical neurodevelopment, and cerebral palsy (CP) in children after they reach 2 years of age. After analyzing data from 21 studies involving over 7000 infants, we found that a HINE score below 58 at the 3-month mark is a crucial finding, as it identifies approximately 80% of children who will later be diagnosed with CP. Beyond CP, the examination also helps clinicians predict atypical motor development, impaired cognitive performance, and atypical neurodevelopment. For parents and caregivers of infants who may be at high risk (such as those born preterm or who spent time in the neonatal intensive care unit), these findings offer a clearer path forward. Using the HINE allows medical professionals to move away from a ‘wait and see’ approach. We recommend that the HINE be integrated into routine follow-up care for high-risk infants. If a child scores below the identified cutoffs, families can be referred to pediatric rehabilitation services immediately. Early therapy takes advantage of the brain's high plasticity, potentially improving the child's physical and cognitive abilities in the long run.