Upper limb standards in newborns.

The present study assists the clinician in determining an abnormal upper limb in the newborn. To define standards for upper limb measurements in the newborn, 198 term and preterm infants (gestational age range, 27 to 41 weeks) were examined. In every case, the gestational age was determined chronologically and clinically, and the total length of the arm, upper extremity and forearm lengths, and total hand and middle finger lengths were measured by two observers using standard techniques. Normal values were determined by plotting the mean +/- 2 SDs for each gestational week v the gestational age.