To Örebro University

Introduction: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that neonatal hip ex ‐amination causes pain in newborns. Pain assessment using instruments such as the Premature Infant Pain Profile‐Revised (PIPP‐R) scale is recommended, but recently physiological and neurophysiological measures, for example, near‐infrared spectros‐copy (NIRS) and galvanic skin response (GSR), have been used as well.

Methods: Heart auscultation and hip examination were performed, and the response of the newborn was registered by NIRS optodes, GSR electrodes, and a pulse oxime‐ter probe attached to the infant. The face of the newborn was filmed. Heart ausculta‐tion was used as a nonpainful reference.

Results: The pain scores for hip examination were higher than for the heart ausculta‐tion. Near‐infrared spectroscopy showed a significant higher increase from baseline in oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2) on both sides of the cortex at hip examination compared with at heart auscultation (P = .011 and P= .017). Mean PIPP‐R scores for the hip examination compared with heart auscultation increased from 3.0 to 8.1 (P = .000). The GSR analyses of hip examination compared with heart auscultation showed a significant increase in area under small peaks during the hip examination (P = .016), however, not when measured in peaks per second (P = .104). Interrater reliability was calculated for the NIRS interpretations, with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) range of 0.93‐1.0 (P = .000).

Discussion: Pain in newborns can have negative consequences, and pain prevention and treatment are therefore important. We conclude that neonatal hip examinations are painful and that the pain should be treated, for example, with oral sweet solution. This is a change from present routines during neonatal hip examination and is hoped to lead to a change in national guidelines.

Aim: To determine if oral glucose can have a pain relieving effect during routine hip exams in newborn infants.

Methods: In this randomized controlled study 100 newborn infants undergoing the routine physical examination including the potentially painful hip exam were included between March 2016 and April 2017. 50 infants were randomized to water (control) and 50 to oral glucose (intervention) before their examination. Pain was assessed using crying time, Astrid Lindgren and Lund Children's Hospital Pain and Stress Assessment Scale (ALPS‐Neo) and Visual analogue scale (VAS).

Results:  Total crying time (p=0.06), crying time during the hip examination (p=0.028), ALPS‐Neo (p=0.004) and VAS (p=0.006) (when assessed by the physician) were all significantly decreased in the group of infants receiving glucose. VAS assessment made by the parents did not reach statistical significance (p=0.127).

Conclusion:  Oral glucose given before the examination has a pain relieving effect during the hip exam in healthy newborn infants.