CORRELATION OF FOOT AND HAND LENGTH MEASUREMENTS WITH GESTATIONAL AGE IN NEONATES

Shamali P. Nehete; Dr. Kalpana K. Kulkarni; Dr. Harish S. Tatiya

Volume : VII, Issue : VIII, August - 2018

CORRELATION OF FOOT AND HAND LENGTH MEASUREMENTS WITH GESTATIONAL AGE IN NEONATES

Shamali P. Nehete, Dr. Kalpana K. Kulkarni, Dr. Harish S. Tatiya

Abstract :

INTRODUCTION:Neonatal mortality is still high in India.Gestational age helps identify high risk preterm babies and is crucial while performing neonatal autopsy.

OBJECTIVES:To find correlation between foot and hand length measurements with gestational age inneonates and to derive formulae to show the same.

METHOD:Gestational age of 100 live neonates was found using the New Ballard Score and length of hands and feet on both the sides weremeasured.

RESULTS:Correlation coefficientsfor hand and foot lengths were 0.974 and 0.981 respectively. P value in both cases was <0.05.

CONCLUSIONS:This simple, economic and non–invasive method can be carried out by basic medical doctors, paramedics or even the ASHAs, Anganwadi workers or the midwives in rural areas to identify the high risk preterm neonates. This method can also be used by forensic pathologists for agedetermination in cases of fragmented body parts, macrocephaly and short limb dwarfism.