Lower limb standards in newborns.

To define standards for lower limb measurements in the newborn, 198 full-term and preterm infants (range, 27 to 41 gestational weeks) were examined. The gestational age was determined chronologically and clinically, and the total length of the lower limb and the leg and foot lengths were measured by two observers with the use of standard measurement techniques. Normal values were determined by plotting the mean +/- 2 SDs for each gestational week v gestational age.