Analysis of the Maturation of the Median Nerve in Preterm‐Born Children During the First 3 Years of Life Using High‐Resolution Nerve Ultrasound Imaging

Aim To compare the development of the peripheral nervous systems of preterm‐ and term‐born children from birth to 3 years of age by imaging the median nerve. Methods Measuring the cross‐sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve at three locations along the arm in term‐born (control group) and preterm‐born children (study group) using high‐resolution ultrasound imaging. Results The data revealed a steady myelination that follows a logarithmic curve when considering the increase of the CSA of the median nerve relative to body surface area (BSA) in preterm‐born children. Therefore, while the CSA of the median nerve was smaller in premature babies at the time of birth, the maturation of the nerve is comparable for preterm‐ and term‐born children. Interpretation This study analyzed how the peripheral nervous system of preterm children develops compared to full‐term children and found no differences in terms of median nerve development. Further, these findings align with previous research documenting a logarithmic increase in the CSA of the median nerve with age in full‐term infants. This research could be helpful for enabling the use of high‐resolution ultrasound imaging as a diagnostic tool for the peripheral nervous system of premature infants.