DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2019.v07i03.008

Pages: 151-157

Introduction: Gestational age assessment is of paramount importance in obstetric care. It helps in pregnancy management from the first trimester to delivery. The three basic methods used to help estimate gestational age are menstrual history, clinical examination, and ultrasonography. Traditionally biparietal diameter, femur length, head circumference, and abdominal circumference have been used to estimate gestational age. The purpose of this study is to find out whether foot length can be used to determine the gestation age more accurately and to explore the relationship of foetal foot length with other foetal measurements between 16 to36 weeks’ gestation. Methods: 500 women with singleton viable normal pregnancy and willing to participate in the study were included. Ultrasonographic measurement of foot length and other parameters was done. Data were analyzed. Results: The mean foetal foot length at 16 weeks and 36 weeks was 21.59±1.79 mm and 71.88±2.61 mm respectively. A strong significant linear relationship between foot length and gestational age was observed. The foetal FT showed a significant linear correlation with biparietal diameter, femur length, head circumference, and abdominal circumference (P<0.0001). Conclusion: Foetal foot length shows a good correlation with gestational age (pearson’s correlation coefficient = 0.97, p value<0.0001). Foetal foot length can thus be used as an alternative foetal parameter to assess gestational age especially in cases of wrong dates or when other routine parameters are not conclusive or did not accurately predict gestational age for e.g, in cases of hydrocephalus, anencephaly or short limb dwarfism.