Gestational age assessment of neonates using foot and hand length measurements: a cross sectional tertiary care centre study

Authors

  • Shruti M. Sajjan Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology Division, Topiwala National Medical College and BYL Nair Hospital Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
  • Sushma Malik Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology Division, Topiwala National Medical College and BYL Nair Hospital Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
  • Vinaya M. Lichade Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology Division, Topiwala National Medical College and BYL Nair Hospital Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
  • Poonam Wade Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology Division, Topiwala National Medical College and BYL Nair Hospital Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20220977

Keywords:

Gestational age, Foot length, Hand length, Birth weight

Abstract

Background: Gestational age of neonates computed based on Naegele’s formula, ultrasound, or using modified New Ballard score (NBS) is limited in the community setup due to illiteracy, accessibility and expertise. Hence there should be alternative technique which can be done even by inexperienced health care staff and in rural communities. Objective of current study was to find out the correlation of foot and hand length with gestational age among neonates.

Methods: A cross sectional study including 200 neonates and their foot length, hand length, birth weight was recorded. Gestational age assessment was done using modified NBS. Correlation among various study parameters was done using Pearson’s correlation coefficient.

Results: Of the 200 neonates studied, the mean foot length was 7.1±0.46 cm with a range of 4-8.5 cm. The mean hand length was 6.0±0.71 cm with a range of 3.8-7.4 cm. The mean foot and hand length of term neonates was higher than preterm neonates. The mean foot and hand length of normal weight neonates was higher than Low birth weight neonates.

Conclusions: Foot and hand length is a simple, quick and reliable measurement which can be used as a proxy measurement to gestational age assessment. It can be easily measured by traditional birth attendants in the community.

Author Biographies

Shruti M. Sajjan, Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology Division, Topiwala National Medical College and BYL Nair Hospital Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Ex Senior Resident, department of prdiatrics

Sushma Malik, Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology Division, Topiwala National Medical College and BYL Nair Hospital Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Ex HOD department of pediatrics

References

Ballard JL, Khoury JC, Wedig K, Wang L, Eilers-Walsman BL, Lipp R. New Ballard Score, expanded to include extremely premature infants. J Pediatr. 1991;119(3):417-23.

Savitz DA, Terry JW Jr, Dole N, Thorp JM Jr, Siega-Riz AM, Herring AH. Comparison of pregnancy dating by last menstrual period, ultrasound scanning, and their combination. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2002;187(6):1660-6.

Konar H. Diagnosis of Pregnancy. In: Dutta DC. Textbook of Obstetrics. 8th ed. New Delhi: Jaypee publications; 2015:73-84.

Moraes CL, Reichenheim ME. Validity of neonatal clinical assessment for estimation of gestational age: comparison of new ++Ballard+ score with date of last menstrual period and ultrasonography. Cad Saude Publica. 2000;16(1):83-94.

Mukherjee S, Roy P, Mitra S, Samanta M, Chatterjee S. Measuring new born foot length to identify small babies in need of extra care: a cross-sectional hospital based study. Iran J Pediatr. 2013; 23(5):508-12.

Dagnew N, Tazebew A, Ayinalem A, Muche A. Measuring newborn foot length to estimate gestational age in a high risk Northwest Ethiopian population. PLoS One. 2020;15(8):e0238169.

James DK, Dryburgh EH, Chiswick ML. Foot length--a new and potentially useful measurement in the neonate. Arch Dis Child. 1979;54(3):226-30.

Kulkarni ML, Rajendran NK. Values for foot length in newborns. Indian Pediatr. 1992;29(4):507-9.

Gohil JR, Sosi M, Vani SN, Desai AB. Footlength measurement in the neonate. Indian J Pediatr. 1991; 58(5):675-7.

Joshi G, Chaudhary N. Foot tape measure for identification of low birth weight newborns. Indian Pediatr. 1993;30(1):25-9.

Fawziah MF, Soebagyo B, Hidayah D. Diagnostic value of newborn foot length to predict gestational age. Paediatr Indonesiana. 2017;57(4):181-6.

Thi HN, Khanh DK, Thu Hle T, Thomas EG, Lee KJ, Russell FM. Foot Length, Chest Circumference, and Mid Upper Arm Circumference Are Good Predictors of Low Birth Weight and Prematurity in Ethnic Minority Newborns in Vietnam: A Hospital-Based Observational Study. PLoS One. 2015; 10(11):e0142420.

James DK, Dryburgh EH, Chiswick ML. Foot length--a new and potentially useful measurement in the neonate. Arch Dis Child. 1979;54(3):226-30.

Dagnew N, Tazebew A, Ayinalem A, Muche A. Measuring newborn foot length to estimate gestational age in a high risk Northwest Ethiopian population. PLoS One. 2020;15(8):e0238169.

Nehete S, Kulkarni D, Tatiya D. Correlation of foot and hand length measurements with gestational age in neonates. Int J Sci Res. 2018;7:45-9.

Kumar GP, Kumar UK. Estimation of gestational age from hand and foot length. Med Sci Law. 1994; 34(1):48-50.

Thawani R, Dewan P, Faridi MM, Arora SK, Kumar R. Estimation of gestational age, using neonatal anthropometry: a cross-sectional study in India. J Health Popul Nutr. 2013;31(4):523-30.

Downloads

Published

2022-03-28

How to Cite

Sajjan, S. M., Malik, S., Lichade, V. M., & Wade, P. (2022). Gestational age assessment of neonates using foot and hand length measurements: a cross sectional tertiary care centre study. International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 10(4), 862–866. https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20220977

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles