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Early Intervention Based on Neonatal Crawling in Very Premature Infants at Risk For Neurodevelopmental Disorder

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Brain Damage
Prematurity
Infant Development
Extreme Prematurity
Motor and Developmental Delay
Interventions
Behavioral: Crawling stimulation with a mini-skateboard (i.e. the crawliskate)
Registration Number
NCT06027645
Lead Sponsor
Marianne Barbu-Roth
Brief Summary

Extreme prematurity is constantly increasing according to the World Health Organization. However, methods to train premature infants at risk of disability is sorely lacking. The goal of this project is to overcome this problem. In previous studies, the investigators discovered that promoting the crawling of typical newborns on a mini skateboard, the Crawliskate (a new tool that the investigators designed and patented EP2974624A1), is an excellent way to stimulate infants' motor and locomotor development. This method is a promising way to provide early interventions in infants at heightened risk for developmental delay, such as premature infants.

The specific objective of this study is to determine if early training in crawling on this mini skateboard will accelerate motor (particularly locomotor) and/or neuropsychological development in very premature infants identified as high risk for developmental delay.

Methodology: The investigators will study and follow two groups of very premature infants born between 24 and 26 weeks of gestational age or born between 26 and 32 with major brain lesions.

These infants will be recruited before their hospital discharge at the NICU. After their discharge from the hospital, one group of infants will be trained at home by their parents under the supervision of physiotherapists to crawl on the Crawliskate every day for 2 months (Crawli group), and one group of infants will receive regular medical care (Control group). All infants will be tested for: 1)their crawling proficiency on the Crawliskate at term-equivalent age (just before training for the trained groups) and at 2 and 6 months corrected age (CA, i.e., age determined from the date on which they should have been born), 2) their motor proficiency between 2 and 12 months CA (2D and 3D recording of head control, sitting, crawling, stepping, walking) and 3) their neurodevelopmental, motor and neuropsychological development between 0 and 28 months CA: BSID III edition, ASQ-3, Amiel-Tison's Neurological Assessment, Prechtl Assessment of general movements. One more ASQ-3 questionnaire will be provided at five years.

Expected results: The first research hypothesis is that premature infants trained daily to crawl (for two months after discharge from the NICU) will acquire proficient crawling patterns and develop earlier and more effective motor and neuropsychological development than premature infants who receive no training.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
50
Inclusion Criteria
  • Term between 24-26 GA or 26-32 GA with suspected brain lesion
  • parental consent
  • family living in intervention area
  • good tolerance on the first crawliskate trial
Exclusion Criteria
  • no bronchodysplasia defined by oxygen dependency after 36 GA
  • no medical disease
  • no limb deformity
  • no karyotype anomaly
  • no visual or auditory impairment

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Crawli GroupCrawling stimulation with a mini-skateboard (i.e. the crawliskate)Participants from the Crawli Group will benefit from the crawling stimulation intervention with a mini-skateboard (i.e. the crawliskate) in addition to usual care
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Gross motor score from the Bayley Scale of Infant and toddlers Development III ed.12 months corrected age

The Bayley Scale of Infant and toddlers Development III ed. (BSID III) assesses several aspect of development: motor, fine motor, communication, personal social, language and problem solving domain.

A score can be obtained for each aspect. At 12 months corrected age we only evaluate gross and fine motor scores, and we consider the gross motor score obtained at 12 months corrected age as the primary outcome of our study.

The minimal score is 0 and there is no maximal score (the child is asked to complete several tasks, and the test can continues with questions from an upper age and only stops when a child no longer succeed with the tasks to complete). A higher score means more advanced skills.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
2D & 3D analysis of movementat 39-42 gestational age, 2, 6, 9, 12 months corrected age

2D \& 3D analysis of movement (head control, sitting, crawling, stepping, walking) using a motion capture system.

Fine and gross motor scores from the Bayley Scale of Infant and toddlers development III ed.2, 6, 9, 12, 24 months corrected age

The Bayley Scale of Infant and toddlers Development III ed. (BSID III) assesses several aspect of development: motor, fine motor, communication, personal social, language and problem solving domain.

A score can be obtained for each aspect. At 2, 6, 9, 12 and 24 months corrected age we only evaluate fine and gross motor scores. Note that the gross motor score obtained at 12 months corrected age is the primary outcome of our study but the fine motor score obtained at 12 months corrected age is also a secondary outcome.

The minimal score is 0 and there is no maximal score (the child is asked to complete several tasks, and the test can continues with questions from an upper age and only stops when a child no longer succeed with the tasks to complete). A higher score means more advanced skills.

Prechtl assessmentat 39-42 gestational age and 2 months corrected age

General movements assessment by video recording: measures the fluency and variability of spontaneous movement while the infant is lying supine on a mattress

Amiel-Tison Neurological Assessmentat 39-42 gestational age, 2, 9, 12 months corrected age

Infant neurological examination at study entry and after the training

Age and Stage questionnaire (ASQ) 32, 6, 9, 12, 18, 28 corrected age and 5 years

Parental appreciation of their infant development in personal-social, communication, gross motor, fine motor and problem solving domain The minimal score is 0 and the maximal score is 60. A higher score means more advanced skills.

Trial Locations

Locations (3)

Cnrs Umr 8002

🇫🇷

Paris, Ile De France, France

Hôpital Robert Debré

🇫🇷

Paris, Ile De France, France

Hôpital Paris Saint-Joseph

🇫🇷

Paris, France

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