Gestational Age Assessment in Newborns
Management guidelines for students, interns and registrars on a variety of routine and emergency situations in our neonatal service at Tygerberg Children’s Hospital. Published in 2014.
FOOT LENGTH AS A DETERMINANT FOR GESTATIONAL AGE
(THE TYGERBERG CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL METHOD)
Foot lengths were measured using a plastic Verniere’s sliding caliper. The infant’s foot was measured from the middle point of the heel to the longest toe, ensuring that no pressure was exerted on the soft tissue.
Please watch out for the interpretation of the data re foot length and gestational age when multiple doses (>2) of steroids have been administered, twins/ triplets that are SGA or IUGR, and IUGR/ SGA babies per se.
|
Gestational age (weeks) |
Foot length (mm) |
|
<24 |
<44 |
|
24 |
44.1-45.9 |
|
25 |
46-48.9 |
|
26 |
49-51.9 |
|
27 |
52-53.9 |
|
28 |
54-55.9 |
|
29 |
56-58.9 |
|
30 |
59-60.9 |
|
31 |
61-63.9 |
|
32 |
64-65.9 |
|
33 |
66-68.9 |
|
34 |
69-70.9 |
|
35 |
71-72.9 |
|
36 |
73-75.9 |
|
37 |
76-77.9 |
|
38 |
78-80.9 |
|
39 |
81-82.9 |
|
40 |
83-84.9 |
|
>41 |
>85 |
Gestational Age Assessment in Newborns, Updated October 2024