Influence of gestational age on muscle tone of healthy preterm indian infants at 40 weeks postconceptional age: An objective assessment

Rajni Farmania, S Sitaraman, Rashmi Ranjan Das

Journal of Clinical Neonatology 2017 6(1):29-33

Objectives: To provide baseline values of muscle tone of healthy preterm appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants and to study the influence of gestational age (GA) on muscle tone of healthy preterm infants compared to full term (FT) at 40 weeks postconceptional age (PCA) in Indian scenario. Methods: The muscle tone of 204 healthy preterm and 74 term infants with normal perinatal course was measured within 72 h of life with the help of a goniometer. Out of 75 preterms followed up till 40 weeks PCA, 61 completed the study. The cohort was subdivided into two groups: Group 1= <35 weeks gestation (n = 23) and Group 2= ≥35 weeks gestation (n = 38). Each group was compared to term infants at 40 weeks PCA. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Results: The adductor angle, arm recoil, popliteal angle, wrist flexion and dorsiflexion angles of both preterm groups were significantly less mature than the FT (P < 0.05). Scarf sign was significantly lower in Group 1 but not in Group 2 when compared to FT individually. Heel-to-ear angle and posture of both groups were not significantly different to the FT. Conclusions: Objective assessment provides a normative data for healthy preterm infants. Maturation of heel to ear angle and posture is independent of GA at birth and can be taken as marker of muscle tone maturity. Deviation in these indicators can be taken as a marker for delayed maturation and follow up is advisable in these cases.

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