The study attempts to understand the relationship between the location and size of CBH and the pre-school neurodevelopment of very preterm neonates.
The researchers studied pre-term MRI of 221 very-preterm neonates and segmented them for CBH location and quantification. The assessment at 4.5 years included motor, cognitive, visuomotor integration, and behavior outcomes. The multi-variable linear regression model helped in understanding the relationship between the 4.5-year outcome and CBH, in accordance with gestational age, supratentorial injury, and sex. The probabilistic map helped in assessing the likelihood of adverse outcome and location.
Out of 36 neonates, 14 had only punctate CBH, and 22 had one or more larger CBH. CBH volume has an independent association with 4.5-years MABC-2 motor core. There was a significant association between the size and externalizing behavior and visuomotor integration, but not cognition. Cerebellum extended CBH was more likely to cause behavioral, motor, and visuomotor outcomes.
The size and location of CBH on MRI had an association with reduced visuomotor and motor functions in the preterm subjects. Understanding the size and location of CBH in a punctate child might allow options from the targeted intervention for behavioral and motor outcomes.
Ref: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ana.25899
