A revisit of the fetal foot length and fetal measurements in early pregnancy sonography

Postnatal foot length in the estimation of gestational age in relation to intrauterine growth pattern among Nigerian neonates

Objectives

To determine the relationship between postnatal foot lengths and estimated gestational age (EGA) in relation to intrauterine growth patterns determined at birth among Nigerian neonates.

Design

Hospital-based, cross-sectional.

Setting

Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Nigeria.

Participants

260 neonates with EGA 30- 42 weeks within 48 hours of life.

Interventions

Postnatal foot lengths (FL) were measured with Vernier digital calliper in millimetres. The intra-uterine growth pattern was determined using the Lubchenco chart. Pearson correlation and regression analysis tests were performed.

Main outcome measures

Postnatal foot length in relation to Intra-Uterine Growth Pattern.

Results

The mean postnatal FL had a strong positive correlation with the EGA from 30 through 42 weeks (r = 0.855, p < 0.001). The overall mean foot length for preterm neonates was 65.44 (6.92) mm, while that of term neonates was 77.92 (4.24) mm. The linear regression equation was generated as: EGA = 9.43 + (0.37 × FL), p < 0.001. The EGA as measured by FL had the highest positive correlation with Small for Gestational Age (SGA) intra-uterine-growth pattern, followed by Appropriate for Gestational Age (AGA) and least by Large for Gestational Age (LGA) respectively (r = 0.936> 0.861 > 0.666).

Conclusion

The postnatal foot length correlated well with estimated gestational age, and the correlation was best among SGA infants.

Funding

None declared.