Fetal scapular length as a gestational age predictor

Longitud de la escápula fetal como predictora de la edad gestacional

Introduction: Accurate estimation of gestational age is essential for the successful clinical management of pregnant women. Fetal scapular length seems to have a strong correlation with gestational age and could be useful for gestational age prediction, in those cases where other ultrasonographic measurements cannot be determined. Objective: to assess the usefulness of fetal scapular length measurement in gestational age prediction. Materials and methods: a prospective and longitudinal study in singleton pregnant women with gestational age from 16 to 40 weeks, who attended Central Hospital “Dr. Urquinaona”, in Maracaibo, Venezuela. Fetal biparietal diameter, abdominal circumference, femoral and scapular lengths, were obtained. Results and discussion: data from 215 gravid women were selected, and 3.289 evaluations were carried out. Fetal scapular length showed strong, positive and significant correlations with gestational age, given by the date of the last menstrual period, and the assessed ultrasonographic values (p < 0.001). The gestational age model predicted by scapular length measurement, reached a determination coefficient (r2) of 0.908. The correlation between gestational age by date of the last menstrual period and that predicted by the scapular length model reached r = 0.953 (p < 0.001). Conclusion: fetal scapular length measurement is useful for predicting gestational age.