IJAR.2019.189

Type of Article:  Original Research

Volume 7; Issue 2.3 (June 2019)

Page No.: 6621-6626

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijar.2019.189

A STUDY OF SONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF FETAL FEMUR LENGTH FOR ESTIMATION OF GESTATIONAL AGE

Monika Adhvaryu 1, Ankit Adhvaryu *2,   Suresh P. Rathod 3, Pradip R. Chauhan 4.

1 Tutor in Anatomy, M. P. Shah Government Medical College, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India.

*2 Assistant professor in Anatomy, M. P. Shah Government Medical College, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India.

3 Dean, GMERS medical College, Junagadh, Gujarat, India.

4 Tutor in Anatomy, P. D. U. Government Medical college, Rajkot, Gujarat, India.

Corresponding Author: Dr. Ankit Adhvaryu, Assistant professor in Anatomy, M. P. Shah Government Medical College, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India.

E-Mail: ankit_adhvaryu@yahoo.co.in

ABSTRACT:

Introduction: Accurate estimation of Gestational age is of great value in proper obstetric care and intervention during pregnancy. Ultrasound has evolved as a reliable method for accurate measurement of gestational age by measuring various fetal biometric features like Crown Rump Length (CRL), Biparietal Diameter (BPD), Femur length (FL), Abdominal Circumference (AC), Head Circumference (HC), Trans Cerebellar Diameter (TCD) etc. Femur being the longest bone in fetus, least movable and easily imagable from second trimester to delivery, can be measured for estimation of gestational age. The present study was performed to evaluate femur length in second and third trimester by ultrasonography, assess gestational age from measurement of Femur Length (FL) and determine the accuracy of gestational age assessed by ultrasonography with gestational age assessed by LMP method in local population of Gujarat.

Materials and Methods: Cross sectional study of total of 200 pregnant women, 100 second trimester and 100 third trimester, between 13 and 40 weeks of gestational age attending the department of radiology at P.D.U. Medical college, Rajkot for a fetal ultrasound scan was done. Femur length (FL) was measured; Gestational age was measured by Hadlock’s method and Loughna P et al’s method; also gestational age was assessed from LMP of the women. The mean values of femur length and predictive accuracy of fetal femur length was analyzed and compared with other studies.

Results: Mean of FL increased progressively from 13-40 weeks of gestation. During both second and third trimesters, Hadlock’s formula and Loughna P’s method were equally accurate to assess the gestational age. But femur length was more accurate in second trimester than in third trimester. There was discrepancy in values of femur length as compared to other studies.

Conclusion: Like other studies the present study also found the need of fetal charts that were specific for individual population and ethnic group to determine gestational age and EDD to enable the development of better clinical guidelines for the present population.

Key words: Fetal Femur Length, Gestational Age.

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Cite this article: Monika Adhvaryu, Ankit Adhvaryu, Suresh P. Rathod, Pradip R. Chauhan. A STUDY OF SONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF FETAL FEMUR LENGTH FOR ESTIMATION OF GESTATIONAL AGE. Int J Anat Res 2019;7(2.3):6621-6626. DOI: 10.16965/ijar.2019.189