Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2025
08:43
Imaging of the Microstructural Failure Mechanism in the Human Hip
Published on: September 29, 2023
891
Long Story of Short Femur: A Single-Center Study with Step-Wise Imaging Approach
Shubhra Agarwal1, Arjit Agarwal2, Shruti Chandak3
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College and Research Centre, Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Moradabad, India.
Journal of Ultrasound
|January 10, 2023
Summary
Short femur length in fetuses can indicate fetal growth restriction (FGR) or be isolated. Serial scans are crucial for isolated cases, while non-isolated cases require a step-wise approach for diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Prenatal diagnosis
- Fetal medicine
- Medical imaging
Background:
- Short femur length (FL) is a common ultrasound finding in pregnancy.
- Determining the etiology of short FL is crucial for appropriate management and counseling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the outcomes of fetuses with short femur length (FL).
- To develop a diagnostic algorithm for short FL using a step-wise imaging approach.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 42 pregnancies with fetal femur length (FL) below the 5th centile.
- Categorization into isolated and non-isolated short FL groups for etiological determination.
Main Results:
- Non-isolated short FL cases included skeletal dysplasia (7) and chromosomal abnormalities (4).
- Isolated short FL cases showed fetal growth restriction (FGR) in 45%, constitutional short for gestational age (SGA) in 42%, and normal growth in 13% (false positives).
Conclusions:
- Short femur length can be an early predictor of FGR.
- Serial follow-up scans are essential for isolated short FL to identify normal cases.
- Non-isolated short FL necessitates a step-wise diagnostic strategy for dysplasia or aneuploidy.
