Hershkovitz R, Tepper R. Sonographic nomogram of the fetal calf between 15 and 42 weeks' gestation using 3-dimensional sonography.
JOURNAL OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE 2008;
27:701-705. [PMID:
18424644 DOI:
10.7863/jum.2008.27.5.701]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to establish a new reference growth chart of calf muscle biometric measurements throughout gestation in normal singleton pregnancies.
METHODS
A prospective cohort study was designed. One hundred pregnant women were included in the study and assessed by 3-dimensional sonography. Excluded were those with multiple pregnancies, congenital anomalies, abnormal karyotypes, and polyhydramnios or oligohydramnios. Three-dimensional multiplanar sonographic images were used to measure the calf muscles: soleus, gastrocnemius, popliteal, peroneus longus, and tibialis posterior.
RESULTS
Calf muscle widths increased with increasing gestational age (R(2) = 0.857; P < .0001), and the ratio between calf muscles and the tibia increased as well (R(2) = 0.356; P = .001).
CONCLUSIONS
The data provide a nomogram of calf width with a direct correlation between muscle growth and gestational age. This nomogram can offer a basis for normal calf development and may assist in distinguishing between different etiologies leading to clubfoot and other joint contractures associated with calf atrophy.
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