Accuracy of New Ballard Score in Small-for-gestational Age Neonates

Ravish Singhal; Suksham Jain; Deepak Chawla; Vishal Guglani

doi:10.1093/tropej/fmx055

Accuracy of New Ballard Score in Small-for-gestational Age Neonates

J Trop Pediatr. 2017 Dec 1;63(6):489-494. doi: 10.1093/tropej/fmx055.

Authors

Ravish Singhal¹, Suksham Jain¹, Deepak Chawla¹, Vishal Guglani¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Government Medical College Hospital, Chandigarh, India.

PMID: 28977559
DOI: 10.1093/tropej/fmx055

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of New Ballard Score (NBS) in small-for-gestational age (SGA) neonates.

Methodology: Neonates born at 35-40 weeks of gestation were included if accurate obstetric gestation estimate was available and birth weight was <10th percentile for gestation. Gestation-matched appropriate-for-gestational-age neonates were enrolled as controls. Gestation derived from NBS was compared with gestation calculated from last menstrual period.

Results: Gestational age estimated by NBS was significantly higher in SGA neonates (mean difference: 0.7 weeks). Neuromuscular component score was similar but physical component score was significantly higher in SGA neonates. Reanalysis after reducing score of 4 to 3 of SGA babies for skin and plantar crease physical parameters showed overestimation of gestational age decreased to 0.4 weeks.

Conclusions: The physical parameters of NBS overestimate gestation in SGA neonates. Changing scores of skin and plantar creases in SGA neonates better estimates gestation age.

Keywords: New Ballard Score; appropriate for gestational age; small for gestational age.