Foetal age from superior facial height and bizygomatic width

Accurate determination of foetal age is of prime importance not only in obstetrics management but also in Medicolegal cases. Many a medicolegal questions especially related to foetal age are to be answered by a Forensic Pathologist after examining a dead foetus. A study was conducted on 74 foetuses of Manipuri population ranging between 12 weeks to 40 weeks, in the Department of Anatomy, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, ltnphal, Manipur. Facial dimensions viz, superior facial height and bizygomatic width were measured. Both the dimensions correlated well with foetal age with correlation coefficient (r) of 0.85 and 0.87 respectively. The equations of regression curves was calculated for two dimensions which can be used as a method for age evaluation of unknown foetus of native population of Manipur, which belong to Mongoloid race, These dimensions can be used in lieu of in inacessible foetal Biparietal Diameter (BPD) by ultrasonographist.