Neurological Assessment
The neurological assessment is made up of eight neurological criteria which have high, significance with gestational age. (Fig. 3.2)
In order to perform the neurological assessment you need to develop good experience. Go through the following characteristics you will gain an idea of how it is to be performed then practice it at your work place.
i) Posture: Place the infant in supine and quiet. Observe the arm, hip and knee extension and flexion.
ii) Square window: The hand is flexed upon the wrist. Gentle pressure is exerted to obtain as much flexion as possible. The wrist should not be rotated. The square window is the angle formed between the hypothenar eminence and the anterior forearm. Ankle dorsiflexion: The foot is flexed in the ankle with gentle but sufficient pressure to obtain maximum flexion. The angle between the top of the foot and the front of the leg is measured.
iv) Popliteal angle: The infant is placed on his back, with the pelvis flat on a firm surface. The leg is first flexed on the thigh. Then flex the thigh fully with one hand. With the other hand extend the leg until the maximum angle is obtained.
v) Heel to ear: With the infant on his back, move the foot as near to the ipsilateral ear as possible without exerting force, the pelvis must be kept flat in a firm surface.
vi) Scarf sign: With the infant on his back, draw one of his arm across the neck, as far as possible to the opposite shoulder. The elbow can be lifted across the baby's body.
vii) Head lag: The infant still lying on his back. Grasp each forearm just above the wrist and gently pull the infant to a sitting position. Observe the relation between the head and the trunk as the infant is raised forward beyond 90" from the bed's surface.
viii) Ventral suspension: Lay the infant on his abdomen, with the chest resting on your hand. Then lift the infant perpendicularly from the examining surface. Score is based on the amount of caudal and cephalic muscle tone activity select a newborn and exhibited.