Fetal femoral length as a parameter for estimation of fetal weight using ultrasound

ABSTRACT

The fetal femoral length [FFL] can be a factor in calculating the fetal weight [FW] via ultrasound. Its size and ease of measurement makes the femur the long bone of choice in predicting fetal weight. This study was designed to find a simplified and accurate method to estimate FW in Sudanese ladies with healthy and singleton pregnancy. A total of 230 healthy pregnant ladies with an age that ranged between 18 to 42 years with normal and well being, singleton pregnancy, had transabdominal ultrasound in order to estimate FW using Shephard equation. FW can be estimated accurately and easily by using the following formula that use a single biometric measure which is [FW [g] = 14.714 x FFL[cm] - 188.56] with a correlation factor R[2]=0.9587 that indicates a positive linear correlation between FW in grams and FFL in centimeters. Obtained equation is an accurate and simplified method when compare to other complicated equations used in estimation of fetal weight