Abstract
Infants with BPD frequently have patterns of shoulder girdle retraction and cervical hyperextension which may interfere with midline movement. Therefore we compared arm movement, head control, and cardiorespiratory changes in response to movement and handling in 10 infants with BPD at 16 weeks corrected age to that of 11 normal age-matched infants. Arm responses to midline stimuli, retention of primary reflexes, scapular and cervical muscle tone in supine and prone were scored based on direct observation and analysis of videotape recordings. The mean weight of the BPD infants was 78% of that of the controls (BPD=4925±739g vs 6278±31g; M±SD, p <0.001). The BPD infants had respiratory rates 35% higher than the controls (mean=48 vs 35.5, p< 0.05). No significant changes occurred in heart rate, respiratory rate or TcPO2, indicating both groups tolerated the procedure equally well. Arm midline activity of the control infants was 2-fold greater than that of the BPD group (p <0.05). Prone head control and trunk support were developed twice as well in the controls than BPD infants (p <0.05). Significant retention of the spontaneous asymmetrical tonic neck reflex and grasp reflex observed in the BPD infants was not present in the controls (p <0.05). Muscle tone was similar in both groups. We speculate that BPD infants may curb movement in order to reserve energy for increased work of breathing.
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Laeqreid, J., Lew, C. & Walker, J. 1784 MOVEMENT DISTURBANCES OF INFANTS WITH BRONCHOPULMONARY DYSPLASIA (BPD). Pediatr Res 19, 408 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01802
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01802
