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Research Article: Changes in Cranial Shape and Developmental Quotient at 6 Months of Age in Preterm Infants

Date Published: 2023-05-11

Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in cranial shape among preterm neonates aged 1–6 months and the relationship between developmental quotient (DQ) and cranial shape at 6 months of age. Preterm infants who were hospitalized in our hospital were prospectively followed for 6 months. The cephalic index (CI) and cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI) were evaluated at 1 (T1), 3 (T2), and 6 months (T3) of age and compared with those of the full-term infants. The relationship between CI or CVAI and DQ at T3 was analyzed using the Enjoji Scale of Infant Analytical Development. A total of 26 participants born at 34.7 ± 1.9 weeks of gestation were included. The CI increased with age (T1: 77.2%, T2: 82.9%, T3: 85.4%, p < 0.01). The prevalence of dolichocephaly at T3 did not significantly differ from that in full-term infants (15.4% vs. 4.5%, p = 0.08). CVAI did not significantly differ between preterm and full-term infants. The DQ showed no significant correlation with either the CI or CVAI (correlation coefficients: 0.23 for CI, ?0.01; CVAI). Dolichocephaly improved over time in preterm infants and no relationship between cranial shape and development was observed in preterm infants at 6 months of age.

Introduction:
Various studies conducted since the 1970s have shown that the craniums of preterm infants are longer than those of full-term infants [1]. With advancements in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) medical care and preterm infant survival, the prevalence of dolichocephaly has increased. Recent studies using three-dimensional (3D) scanners have shown that the craniums of preterm infants extend from birth to term-equivalent age [2], and that more than half of them have moderate or severe dolichocephaly at discharge or…

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