Unexpected Good Motor and Cognitive Function in an Extremely Premature Child With a History of Perinatal Cerebellar Hemispheric Infarction and Multiple Other Risk Factors for Poor Outcome

Abstract

Cerebellar infarction is a known possible complication of extreme prematurity, and usually results in severe disability. This report presents a 20-month-old girl (16 months corrected), who was born in a toilet at 24 weeks gestational age. She had multiple neonatal predictors of poor outcome, including unilateral cerebellar hemispheric infarction, grade 3 intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, fungal sepsis, patent ductus arteriosus, pulmonary valve stenosis, lack of prenatal care, and poor social situation. Despite all these poor prognostic factors, she was close to meeting corrected-age-appropriate motor and cognitive milestones. The etiology and outcomes of cerebellar infarction in extremely premature neonates, and possible contributors to this child’s function, are discussed.