Normal range of fetal knee movements

Kalman Katz*, Reuven Mashiach, Alhanan Bar On, Paul Merlob, Michael Soudry, Israel Meizner

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Fetal limb movement abnormalities have been described to date in the literature only in subjective terms. The aim of the present study was to define objectively the normal range of fetal knee motion. The study population consisted of 240 normal fetuses at gestational age 16-39 weeks. The range of active knee motion was determined on routine prenatal ultrasound scans by measuring the angles between the midtibia, midfemur, and midknee on maximum flexion and extension. From 16 to 32 weeks, average knee flexion was 129.4° (range, 120-140°) and average extension was 23.7°(range, 15-40°). From 33 to 39 weeks, there was a gradual decrease in knee extension owing to lack of space in uterus. Knowledge of the normal range of fetal knee motion will assist clinicians in the prenatal diagnosis of neuromusculoskeletal disease.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)739-741
Number of pages3
JournalJournal of Pediatric Orthopaedics
Volume19
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1999
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Measurements
  • Normal fetal knee motion
  • Ultrasound

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