Abstract
Purpose
To evaluate the long-term outcome of fetuses with a diagnosis of isolated short long bones.
Methods
A retrospective review was conducted of all cases diagnosed with short long bones above 20 weeks of gestation during 2010–2017 in a single tertiary center. Exclusion criteria included abnormal sonographic findings other than short long bones, suspected genetic syndromes, chromosomal abnormalities, and abnormal Doppler flow indices. Follow-up was carried out by telephone questionnaire.
Results
During the study period, 54 (24.32%) women met inclusion criteria. Mean gestational age at delivery was 38.05 years (± 2.42 SD). Mean birth weight was 12–19th percentile according to the local fetal growth charts [2645 g (± 684 SD) 95% CI 2173–2980]. Median time for post-natal follow-up was 9.3 years (IQR 6.6–10.75). Growth below the 10th percentile was demonstrated in 27 (50%) children. 11 (20.37%) children were followed up by endocrinological clinics, of them 7 (12.96%) were treated with growth hormone. Three (5.6%) of the children were diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, an incidence that is considered lower than that of the general population (± 9%).
Conclusions
Prenatal fetal isolated short long bones diagnosed during the late second and third trimester is associated with short stature. No neurodevelopmental impact was observed in our study group.
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AM: conception, planning, carrying out work, analyzing and writing the manuscript; ST: carrying out the work; MS: carrying out the work; SP: analyzing and writing, manuscript writing, manuscript editing; RA: conception, carrying out the work; YG: conception, manuscript writing, manuscript editing.
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The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board (ID 3975-17-SMC) on 16/3/2017 before the study had begun.
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Mohr-Sasson, A., Toussia-Cohen, S., Shapira, M. et al. Long-term follow-up on fetuses with isolated sonographic finding of short long bones: a cohort study. Arch Gynecol Obstet 301, 459–463 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-019-05421-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-019-05421-4