R. Nagesh 1 , Seetha Pramila V V 2 , Anil Kumar Shukla 3
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To estimate foetal gestational age by measuring humerus length on ultrasonography in second and third trimesters of normal pregnancies. To compare it with conventional parameter femur length for verification of its accuracy and usefulness in foetal biometry. MATERIAL AND METHODS This prospective cross-sectional study includes 100 healthy women with uncomplicated singleton gestations in the period of 14 to 40 weeks. The average gestational age of the foetus was calculated by using routine biometric parameters. The foetal femur length and humerus length were measured and are compared with standard tables. The gestational age was correlated with femur and humerus lengths. The humerus length was compared with femur length. RESULTS Data obtained from 100 normal singleton gestations pertaining to gestational age, femur length and humerus length were statistically analysed and compared. Correlation coefficients and p-values were calculated. The association of GA with FL and HL showed positive correlation and are significant. [Gestational age and femur length: r-0.995, p<0.001**, Gestational age and humerus length: r-0.993, p<0.001**, Femur length and Humerus length: r-0.998, p<0.001**] Scatter graphs for GA and FL, GA and HL, FL and HL also shown good correlation between the variables. CONCLUSIONS Humerus length is a good parameter for estimation of foetal gestational age. Compared with femur length, humerus length is similar and reliable in estimation of foetal gestational age and there is no much difference between the two parameters.
