A COMPARISON OF MANUAL AND ULTRASOUND MEASUREMENTS OF FUNDAL HEIGHT

Background. Uterine fundal height has long been used to assess fetal g rowth. The common prediction rule states that the distance in centimet ers between the pubic symphysis and the top of the fundus equals the g estational age in weeks. The correlation holds best between weeks 18 a nd 32. This study compares manual and ultrasound measurements of funda l height. Methods. We compared palpated and ultrasound sym physis-fund al height. We then compared both measurements with gestational age as determined by usual ultra sound measurements. Patients were statistica lly separated by weight into two groups: normal and obese. We hypothes ized that manual measurements of fundal height would be affected by ob esity and race. Results. Ultrasound fundal height and manual fundal he ight were equivalent (P less than or equal to.01, R(2)=.92). Regressio n analysis in normal weight and obese patients showed that both method s have the same predictive power in determining fetal age. Conclusions . Manual measurements are still a reliable and inexpensive means of ev aluating the course of pregnancy. Ultrasound is needed when there is a size-vs-date discrepancy. Ultrasound is also useful for teaching the measurement of fundal height.