Accuracy of infant admission lengths.
OBJECTIVE
A variety of methods are used to assess the length of infants at hospital admission. A tape-measure technique is commonly used; however, this measure is potentially inaccurate. We aimed to assess accuracy of tape measurement of infant lengths by comparison with the more accurate length-board technique.


METHODS
During a 1-year period, 25 infants who were younger than 36 months were seen for a nutrition consultation. The length obtained at admission was compared with that obtained with a length-board by a trained dietitian.


RESULTS
Overall, the lengths varied enough both positively and negatively that no overall statistical difference was seen; however, the average difference between the tape measure and the length-board was 2.23 cm. The change in length resulted in a change in the weight-for-length percentile range in 13 of 25 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The more accurate length-board measurement should be applied at the time of admission of an infant.
Corkins
Mark R
MR
Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children, Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, USA. mrcorkin@pol.net
Lewis
Pam
P
Cruse
Wendy
W
Gupta
Sandeep
S
Fitzgerald
Joseph
J
D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009752:Nutritional Status