What is the Capurro method?

Referencias

Rationale: The soles are the last area to develop creases. At 28 weeks, they are smooth; by 40 weeks, they are fully creased.

| Characteristic | Score | | --- | --- | | Skin texture | 1 | | Lanugo | 0 | | Plantar creases | 1 | | Breast tissue | 1 | | Ear form | 1 | | Genital development | 1 | | Posture | 1 | | Square window | 1 | | Arm recoil | 1 | | Leg recoil | 1 | | Heel to ear reflex | 1 | | Total score | 10 |

The Capurro Method: The Gold Standard for Postnatal Gestational Age Assessment (And Where to Find the PDF)

Introduction

In the high-stakes environment of neonatal care, knowing the exact gestational age (GA) of a newborn is not merely an administrative detail—it is a clinical necessity. Gestational age influences every critical decision, from resuscitation protocols at birth to the interpretation of neurological exams, nutritional plans, and the administration of surfactant or antibiotics.

While it is a cornerstone in many maternity hospitals, studies show that Capurro can sometimes overestimate the age of infants born before 39 weeks or underestimate it in post-term babies. Despite these variations, it remains a highly effective tool for identifying Small for Gestational Age (SGA) newborns, showing high specificity in clinical settings. Estimating gestational age and its relation - SciELO