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Human fetal hand size and hand maturity in the first half of the prenatal period
1Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Insights
Radiographic standards for fetal hand and finger bone length were established. These measurements, particularly the third metacarpal bone length, accurately predict fetal size and skeletal maturity.
Area of Science:
- Prenatal imaging and skeletal development
- Fetal anthropometry and biometry
Background:
- Accurate assessment of fetal development is crucial for clinical evaluation.
- Establishing normative data for skeletal growth during the prenatal period is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish radiographic standards for fetal hand length and finger bone dimensions during early gestation.
- To correlate these hand measurements with general fetal size (crown-rump length) and foot length.
- To assess skeletal maturity using a Composite Number of Ossified bones (CNO).
Main Methods:
- Radiographic analysis of 251 normal human fetuses (crown-rump length 47-194 mm).
- Measurement of hand length (DM), third proximal phalangeal bone length (PP), and third metacarpal bone length (MC).
- Correlation of hand and finger bone measurements with crown-rump length (CRL) and foot length (FL).
Main Results:
- Third proximal phalangeal and metacarpal bone lengths are reliable predictors of hand length.
- Hand length and third metacarpal bone length effectively predict general fetal size (CRL).
- Established standards for hand/finger bone size relative to fetal length and foot length.
Conclusions:
- Third metacarpal bone size and skeletal maturity aid in estimating fetal development (age and CRL).
- Normative data on fetal hand and finger bone size is valuable for evaluating pathological conditions affecting hand growth.
Abstract:
The purpose of the present study has been to establish radiographic standards of hand length and finger bone size in the first half of the prenatal period, and to relate these measurements to general fetal size (CRL) and foot length (FL), as well as to the skeletal maturity assessed from a Composite Number of Ossified bones in hand and foot radiographs (CNO). The right hand and foot of each of 251 normal human fetuses (CRL 47-194 mm) were radiographed. From each hand radiograph hand length (DM), third proximal phalangeal bone length (PP) and third metacarpal bone length (MC) were measured. The study showed that third proximal phalangeal and metacarpal bone lengths both provide a valuable basis for estimating hand length. Both hand length and the length of the third metacarpal bone were found to be good predictors of general fetal size (CRL). The study provides standards for the relationships between hand and finger bone sizes, general fetal length and foot length. By combining third metacarpal bone size and skeletal maturity of the hand and foot general fetal development (age and crown-rump length) can be estimated. Insight into normal hand size and finger bone size at different stages of normal development including skeletal maturation is useful in future evaluation of handsize under pathological conditions.