Correlation of Femur Head Diameters with Gestational age of Human Fetuses

• Author Details:   
• Bindu Singh
• Sajjad Jafar
• Shalini Gupta
• Prateek Gautam

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Aims & Objectives: To determine the gestational Age with the help of transverse and vertical diameters of the femoral head in second and third trimester fetuses.
Introduction: Various parameters have been used to determine gestational age like crown rump length, bi-parietal diameter, femur length etc. But none of the parameters are reliable especially in cases like hydrocephalous, Microcephaly, Achondroplasia, dwarfism hence in such cases femur head diameter for determination of gestational age can be used.
Material & Method: 40 (22 females & 18 males) spontaneously aborted & still born fetuses were collected from the department of obs. & gynecology BRD medical college Gorakhpur .Dissection was done to expose the hip joint and the Transverse & vertical diameters of the head of femur were measured in full abduction of hip by digital Vernier caliper.
Result: The transverse and vertical diameters of the head of femur showed progressive growth with progressive increase in gestational age. Both the transverse and vertical diameters in 3rd trimester were found 2.3times than that of the 2nd trimester.

Key words: Gestational age, transverse and vertical diameters of femoral head, fetus, Developmental dysplasia of hip