Critical Components of Motor Development in an Infant Exposed to Acute Metabolic Acidosis: Early Motor Repertoire and Selective Motor Control in a Case Report
Abstract
Purpose: This case report aims to evaluate the early motor repertoire and selective motor control of an infant exposed to acute metabolic acidosis to determine their neurodevelopmental risk. Method: A 12-week-old male infant, previously hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit due to hypoactivity and metabolic acidosis on the third postnatal day, was referred for a physiotherapy assessment at three months of age. A neurodevelopmental evaluation was conducted using a four-minute video recording of the infant in an alert, unstimulated, supine position. The early motor repertoire was assessed via the Motor Optimality Score-Revised (MOS-R), and selective motor control was evaluated using the Baby Observational Selective Control Appraisal (BabyOSCAR). Findings: The infant achieved a MOS-R score of 13 and a total BabyOSCAR score of 19. These clinical scores collectively indicated that the infant was at a high risk for impaired neurodevelopment, suggesting that the history of acute metabolic acidosis may have disrupted early motor system organization and altered spontaneous movement quality. Conclusion: Combining early motor repertoire and selective motor control assessments in infants exposed to metabolic acidosis offers a valuable clinical approach for the early identification of neurodevelopmental risk, though larger longitudinal studies are needed to validate these findings.
Keywords
Acidosis, Metabolic, Child Development, Infant, Diseases, Motor Skill
Supporting Institution
Ethical Statement
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References
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