title: Isolated Short Fetal Femur Length in the Second Trimester and the Association with Adverse Perinatal Outcome: Experiences from a Tertiary Referral Center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the association between isolated mid-trimester short fetal femur length and adverse perinatal outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective cohort study of patients with singleton gestations routinely assessed by second trimester ultrasound examination during 2006-2013. A fetal isolated short femur was defined as a femur length (FL) below the 5th percentile in a fetus with an abdominal circumference greater than the 10th percentile. Cases of aneuploidy, skeletal dysplasia and major anomalies were excluded. Primary outcomes of interest included the risk of small for gestational age neonates, low birth weight and preterm birth (PTB). Secondary outcome parameters were a 5-min Apgar score less than 7 and a neonatal intensive care unit admission. A control group of 200 fetuses with FL ≥ 5th percentile was used to compare primary and secondary outcome parameters within both groups. Chi-square and Student's t-tests were used where appropriate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 608 eligible patients with a short FL, 117 met the inclusion criteria. Isolated short FL was associated with an increased risk for small for gestational age (19.7% versus 8.0%, p = 0.002) neonates, low birth weight (23.9% versus 8.5%, p<0.001), PTB (19.7% versus 6.0%, p<0.001) and neonatal intensive care unit admissions (13.7% versus 3.5%, p = 0.001). The incidence of a 5-min Apgar score less than 7 was similar in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Isolated short FL is associated with a subsequent delivery of small for gestational age and Low birth weight neonates as well as an increased risk for PTB. This information should be considered when counseling patients after mid-trimester isolated short FL is diagnosed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Obstetrics and fetomaternal Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Mariella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mailath-Pokorny
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of General Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Gynecologic Cancer Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Karl Landsteiner Institute for General Gynecology and Experimental Gynecologic Oncology, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Polterauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Obstetrics and fetomaternal Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Worda
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Obstetrics and fetomaternal Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Springer
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Obstetrics and fetomaternal Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bettelheim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D005333:Fetus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal