A Radiological Investigation on the Hand Development in Human Fetuses Throughout the Fetal Period and an Evaluation Performed in Terms of its Clinical Importance Hand Development

Abstract

CEREN, U.; KADIR, D.; OSMAN, S. & MEHMED ALI, M.A Radiological investigation on the hand development in human fetuses throughout the fetal period and an evaluation performed in terms of its clinical importance. Int. J. Morphol., 34(4):1539Morphol., 34(4): -1552Morphol., 34(4): , 2016. SUMMARY:It was aimed in this study that the morphometric development of the hand in human fetuses throughout the fetal period be radiologically investigated and the clinical importance of this period be evaluated. A total of 50 fetuses with no external pathology or anomaly, and the ages of which varied between 20-40 gestational weeks were incorporated into the study. The fetuses were separated into groups according to gestational weeks, trimesters and months. After the general external measurements of the fetuses were performed, mammography and hand radiographies of the fetuses were shot in the way that their hands would be in a pronational position. Afterwards, the morphometric measurements of the hands were performed with the help of a digital caliper through the hand radiographies that were shot. The averages and standard deviations of the measured parameters were determined according to gestational weeks, trimesters and months. There was a significant correlation between the measured parameters and the gestational age (p<0.001). Additionally, it was observed that there was some difference among the groups in the comparison of the measured parameters involving trimesters and months (p<0.05). We are of the opinion that in evaluating the clinical studies regarding the morphometric development of the hand throughout the fetal period and in determining the pathologies and variations related to the fetal hand development, the data obtained in our study will be of use to the clinicians engaged in gynecology, and forensic medicine as well as those involved in this field.

Investigating the reliability and sex differences of digit lengths, ratios, and hand measures in infants

“…However, these findings are contrasted by other studies, specifically in prepubertal cohorts, reporting considerable fluctuations in growth development as well as in digit measures 16 , 17 , 50 . Especially studies in prenatal or very young samples could not find sex differences in digit lengths and ratios from 9 to 40 weeks of gestational age 51 as well as in newborns born between 37 and 40 weeks of gestational age 52 or in hand length, width and index in deceased fetuses of 20 to 40 weeks of gestational age 38 . Studies investigating digit growth over a specific lifespan found larger digits in females from 2 years of age up to the age of 12 and a significant shift afterwards with males exhibiting longer digits after the age of 12 17 , 50 .…”

“…Sex differences in hands are relatively stable 5 , however, in the fetal age no significant sex differences in hand length, width, and index [i.e. (Hand width/Hand length)*100] could be observed in radiographs of 50 fetuses between 20 and 40 weeks of gestational age 38 and also in prepubertal children a considerable overlap between males and females considering the size of the hand remains 39 . With onset of the puberty, sex differences can be reliably observed 5 .…”