[Pulmonary and bone maturation. Study of 36 neonates (author's transl)]

Pulmonary surfactant deficiency was diagnosed in 36 newborn infants by measuring low L/S ratios in sequential tracheal aspirated samples. A distal femoral epiphysis was seen in knee X-rays in 25 of these 36 infants. It is concluded that fetal pulmonary maturity cannot be judged in utero by the presence of ossific centres at the knee, although there is a statistical correlation between gestational age and maturity of the bones.