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Differences in gross motor and fine motor outcomes for toddlers after early complex cardiac surgery

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2024

Charlene M.T. Robertson*
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Developmental Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada Developmental Pediatrics, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Sara Khademioureh
Affiliation:
Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Irina A. Dinu
Affiliation:
Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Julie A. Sorenson
Affiliation:
Department of Physical Therapy, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Ari R. Joffe
Affiliation:
Pediatric Intensive Care, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
*
Corresponding author: C. M. T. Robertson; Email: charlene.robertson@albertahealthservices.ca
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Abstract

Objectives:

To determine whether gross motor scores of toddlers after complex cardiac surgery were different from fine motor scores and were adequately represented by motor composite scores and, whether acute care predictors and chronic childhood health markers of gross motor scores differed from those of fine motor.

Methods:

This prospective inception-cohort outcomes study included 171 toddlers after complex cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass at age <6 months, born in Northern Alberta from 2009 to 2019, and without known chromosomal abnormalities. At a mean (standard deviation) age of 21.7 (3.7) months, the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III determined motor composite and scaled scores (normative values, 100 (15), 10 (3), respectively). The same variables from surgery and assessment were analysed using multivariate regression to predict gross and fine motor scores; results expressed as effect size (95% confidence interval) with % variance.

Results:

Composite, fine, and gross motor scores were 89.7 (14.2), 9.4 (2.5), and 7.2 (2.7), respectively. Predictive variables accounted for 21.2% of the variance for fine motor, and 36.9% for gross motor. Multivariate analysis for gross motor scores included toddlers need for cardiac medication, effect size (95% confidence interval) −0.801 (−1.62, −0.02), gastrostomy, −1.35 (−2.39, −0.319), and single ventricle, −0.93 (−1.71, −0.15). These same variables did not predict fine motor scores.

Conclusion:

Gross motor skills commonly were lower than fine motor skills for toddlers after complex cardiac surgery. Predictors for gross motor scores differed from fine motor scores. Separate reporting of gross motor scores could lead to improved identification of predictors of delay and to optimised early intervention.

Information

Type
Original Article
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press
Figure 0

Figure 1. Flow chart for gross motor study for children after early complex cardiac surgery.

Figure 1

Table 1. Descriptive variables of acute care surgery for complex cardiac defects and chronic health conditions at age 21 months for 171 toddlers, 2009–2019.

Figure 2

Table 2. Bayley-III fine and gross motor subtest scaled scores, and proportion of delay for 171 toddlers after complex cardiac surgery.

Figure 3

Table 3. Univariate linear regressions variables with p-value <0.1 from acute care surgery period and from the 21-month assessment in relation to the Bayley-III fine motor and gross motor scaled scores for 171 toddlers after complex cardiac surgery.

Figure 4

Table 4. Stepwise multivariate regression for prediction of the Bayley-III fine motor and gross motor scaled scores for 171 toddlers after complex cardiac surgery.