Abstract
Background: Knemometry has been used to accurately measure linear growth in both neonates and children over the last 20 years. It has been used principally as a research tool.
Aim: To investigate whether serial measurement of lower leg length (LLL) by knemometry is a useful addition to other measures of growth in the neonatal unit.
Methods: A 1-year prospective hospital-based cohort study from 2004 to 2005. Knemometry was performed every 3-4 days from the time of consent to time of discharge. Infants were grouped by gestation at birth for analysis (< 28 weeks, 28-31 weeks, 32-36 weeks and > 36 weeks gestation). The main outcome assessed was longitudinal growth. Subgroup analyses were performed on infants < 10th percentile for weight, surgical infants and infants who had received antenatal steroids.
Results: LLL measured by knemometry correlated well with postmenstrual age (r = 0.93) and weight (r = 0.93). The mean (SD) increase in LLL was 0.45 (0.7) mm/day.
Conclusion: Change in LLL correlates well with change in weight and postmenstrual age in the neonatal period but adds little extra information to routine practice in the neonatal unit.