The Moro Scale Score was developed to monitor infants born with narcotic withdrawal over time. Many newborns born with narcotic withdrawal show a variety of abnormalities, including a hyperactive Moro reaction. Even after the neonatal period the infants may show developmental differences from normal infants for several months.
Parameters used in score
(1) abduction at shoulder
(2) extension at elbow
(3) adduction at shoulder
(4) flexion at elbow
(5) threshold of response
(6) tremor - incidence
(7) tremor - frequency
(8) tremor - amplitude
|
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
|
abduction at shoulder |
none |
0 |
|
|
only anteflexion |
1 |
|
|
to about 45° |
2 |
|
|
to about 90° |
3 |
|
extension at elbow |
none |
0 |
|
|
to about 90° |
1 |
|
|
to about 135° |
2 |
|
|
to full 180° |
3 |
|
adduction at shoulder |
none |
0 |
|
|
half range of abduction |
1 |
|
|
full range of abduction |
2 |
|
|
across midline |
3 |
|
flexion at elbow |
none |
0 |
|
|
half range of extension |
1 |
|
|
full range of extension |
2 |
|
threshold of response |
low (all trials positive) |
3 |
|
|
medium (> half trials positive) |
2 |
|
|
high (response after > 5 trials) |
1 |
|
tremor - incidence |
absent |
0 |
|
|
rare |
1 |
|
|
marked |
2 |
|
tremor - frequency |
absent |
0 |
|
|
low (< 6 per second) |
1 |
|
|
high (>= 6 per second) |
2 |
|
tremor - amplitude |
absent |
0 |
|
|
small (< 3 cm) |
1 |
|
|
high (>= 3 cm) |
2 |
More scale score =
= SUM(points for all 8 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 20
• Infants born with narcotic withdrawal tend to have higher scores over a longer period than normal infants.
Specialty: Toxicology, Emergency Medicine, Critical Care
