A study of some radiological criteria used in assessing the gestational age of the human infant

Radiographs showing the lower limb ossification centres were taken within 72 hours of birth in 109 infants. The gestational ages of the babies ranged from 252 to 317 days and were known accurately. The relationship between the presence or absence of the lower femoral, upper tibial and cuboidal centres and gestational age are illustrated, and the correlation between the sizes of the centres and gestational ages calculated. It is concluded that examination of ossification centres on antenatal or postnatal radiographs is an unsatisfactory method of assessment of gestational age.