Background/Objectives: Our research aimed to assess if correlations could be found between items evaluated at the cerebral ultrasound performed at term-equivalent age (TEA) and neuro-motor outcomes evaluated at 12 and 24 months of corrected age in a group of preterm infants. Methods: The following were assessed: the Levine Index, the diagonals of the lateral ventricles, the size of the ventricular midbody, the sinocortical distance, the width of the basal ganglia, the cortical depth at the level of the cingular sulcus and the maturation of the gyral folding. The neurologic evaluation was performed at 12 and 24 months of corrected age, according to the Amiel Tison neurologic examination, and the items from the calendar of motor acquisitions were used as outcome measures of the study—gross and fine motor subsets. The comparisons between the different groups were performed using the FANOVA test, with a statistically significant association for a p < 0.05. Results: The abnormal gross motor acquisitions at 12 months were significantly associated with an increased size of the ventricular midbody (p < 0.009) and a significantly decreased diameter of the basal ganglia (p < 0.011) on the TEA cerebral ultrasound. At 24 months, a significant association was found with increased size of the ventricular midbody (>10.33 mm) (p < 0.001), a decreased diameter of the basal ganglia (<12.9 mm) (p < 0.016), a decreased cortical depth (p < 0.021) and an immature gyral maturation pattern (p < 0.001). In the case of severely abnormal fine motor outcomes, at 12 months, there were statistically significant associations with an increased size of the ventricular midbody (p < 0.001) and an immature gyral folding pattern (p < 0.0180); at 24 months, significant associations were noted with the size of ventricular midbody (p < 0.001), a decreased diameter of the basal ganglia (p < 0.016), a decreased cortical depth (p < 0.021) and an immature gyration folding (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The abnormal gross and fine motor outcome in former premature infants at 12–24 months corrected age is significantly associated with abnormal findings in the head ultrasound examination performed at TEA reflecting both white matter (increased midbody distance) and grey matter (decreased diameter of the basal ganglia, decreased cortical depth and an immature gyration pattern) involvement.
Background: Hydrocephalus in preterm and term newborns is a condition with an important impact on medical care and the neurological development of patients, with high expenditures regarding daily care. Imaging nowadays provides valuable information regarding the aetiology of the condition, and it represents a great aid in monitoring the development of the patients. Materials and methods: In this article, we present the cases of five patients with hydrocephalus, for which different imaging methods were used to detect and treat the underlying aetiology, emphasizing the cranial ultrasound examination. Results: The results provided valuable information regarding the utility and feasibility of ultrasound. Moreover, Prechtl’s Assessment of General Movements is yet another useful tool, which in correlation with the use of cranial ultrasound can provide good insight regarding the evolution of the affected newborns. The Kurjak Antenatal Neurodevelopmental Test (KANET, KANE Test) comes in handy in the case of prenatal neurological assessments. Conclusions: Ultrasound examination proves to be a worthy tool capable of detecting the aetiology; however, in several cases, a complementary imaging examination might be needed. The therapeutic approach should take into consideration the diverse aetiology of the disease.