The increase in the survival rate of preterm newborns is associated with a high risk of delay or changes in neuropsychomotor development, among them, cerebral palsy (CP), the most common childhood disability in the world. Although diagnosis has been traditionally made late, between the ages of 12 and 42 months, the use of tools that allow early detection of this health condition is recommended. The use of results from neuroimaging, from Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE) and from general movements assessment (General Movements - GMs) in a combined way allows detecting infants at high risk of CP before 5 months of corrected age.

Early identification of preterm infants between the ages of 2 and 4 months who are at high risk of CP.

This is a cross-sectional observational study carried out between February and December 2022. The sample consisted of preterm infants, born in the maternity of a university-hospital, with gestational age < 34 weeks and/or weight ≤ 1500 grams, who were referred for follow-up at a preterm children's outpatient clinic in the university-hospital complex. The criteria considered as a high risk of CP were the presence of peri-intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH) grades III and IV on cranial ultrasound (US); HINE total score ≤ 56; and abnormal classification (mildly abnormal or definitely abnormal) in GMs.

In the present study, were assessed 26 preterm infants, 65.4% male, with a mean age of 99.88 days (±22.28), mean gestational age of 31.19 weeks (±2.45), and mean birth weight of 1491.92 grams (±455.99). Seven infants (26.9%) presented a HINE total score ≤ 56 points. Five infants (19.2%) had abnormal classification in GMs, 3 were classified as definitely abnormal and 2 as mildly abnormal. Twelve (46.2%) infants did not present PIVH, grades I and II were identified in 14 (53.8%) infants and none of them presented grades III and IV.

The use of GMs and HINE in a follow-up service of preterm infants provided early detection of infants at high risk of CP and referral for early intervention in a timely manner. However, US results should be interpreted with caution in this population, suggesting further investigation of this tool in future research.

Early detection of CP can facilitate diagnosis and enable referral for early intervention in the period of greater brain neuroplasticity, allowing better functional outcomes. In addition, it is important to emphasize that it can also contribute to coping and the family's mental health, reducing stress, anxiety and depression and increasing well-being.