Establishing an early identification score system for cerebral palsy based on detailed assessment of general movements

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study aimed to establish an early identification score system of cerebral palsy (CP) in the writhing movement period of high-risk infants by detailed assessment of general movements (GMs). METHODS: High-risk infants from our hospital during January 2016 to January 2017 were included. GMs were assessed and a detailed score was calculated. The 52-neuromotor examination for 0- to 1-year-olds was performed and follow-up outcome was determined at the 12th month according to CP diagnostic criteria. An early identification score of detailed assessment was established in the writhing movement period of infants. RESULTS: The detailed score during the writhing movement period was significantly different among the normal, poor repertoire, and cramped-synchronized groups of GMs (F = 208.186). Detailed scores were positively related to 52-neuromotor examination scores, with a correlation coefficient of 0.218. The predictive validity of the early identification score was 92.11%, sensitivity was 100%, specificity was 90.00%, the positive predictive value was 72.73%, the negative predictive value was 100%, the false positive rate was 10, and the false negative rate was 0. CONCLUSION: The detailed GM score in the writhing movement period is correlated with 52-neuromotor examination results. The CP early identification score could be useful in clinical practice.