Advances in Preterm Brain Injury.

Preterm birth remains a major global health problem. Despite advances in neonatal care, neurodevelopmental disabilities persist, including major motor disabilities in 5-10% and cognitive, behavioral and sensory challenges in more than half of surviving preterm infants. Brain injury in the preterm infant remains common and occurs during a period of crucial brain development occurring between 24 and 40 weeks of gestation. The major forms of brain injury in preterm infants include white matter injury, germinal matrix-intraventricular hemorrhage and cerebral gray matter injury, as well as the prevalent features of dysmaturation seen even in the absence of overt brain injury.