The Capurro Method is a clinical tool, often used in Latin America, that determines a newborn’s gestational age by assessing five physical characteristics: skin texture, ear shape, breast gland size, nipple formation, and plantar creases . Developed by Dr. Haroldo Capurro, this method assigns a score to classify newborns from preterm to post-term, calculated as (204 + Total Score) / 7 . To download the technical PDF, visit Dialnet .
The accurate determination of gestational age (GA) is critical in neonatal care for guiding medical management, predicting morbidity, and assessing growth parameters. While ultrasonography remains the gold standard, clinical methods remain essential in resource-limited settings or when prenatal data is unreliable. This paper reviews the , a somatic and neurological scoring system developed by Dr. Horacio Capurro. The method is lauded for its accuracy in the first hours of life and its focus on the "posture sign" as a primary neurological indicator. This review details the scoring criteria, discusses its validation against other methods like the Ballard and Dubowitz scores, and highlights its enduring relevance in modern obstetrics and pediatrics.
#Neonatología #MedicinaPerinatal #SaludPublica #InvestigaciónClínica #HoracioCapurro #Pediatría
| Feature | Capurro | Ballard (New Ballard Score) | Dubowitz | |---------|---------|-----------------------------|----------| | | 5 (4 physical, 1 neuro) | 12 (6 physical, 6 neuro) | 11 (mixed) | | Time required | 5 min | 10–15 min | 15–20 min | | Equipment needed | None | None (or penlight for eye signs) | None | | Accuracy | ± 2 weeks | ± 1.5 weeks | ± 1.5 weeks | | Best for | Low-resource settings, rapid screening | Detailed neonatal assessment | Research | | Language | Original: Spanish/English | English | English |
Example: Total score = 80 80 + 204 = 284 → 284 / 7 = (approximately 40 weeks + 4 days).
Once calculated, newborns are categorized into five basic parameters: Post-term: 42 weeks or more. Full-term: 37 to 41 weeks. Mildly Preterm: 35 to 36 weeks. Moderately Preterm: 32 to 34 weeks. Extremely Preterm: Less than 32 weeks. s1e181b62664a5fde.jimcontent.com Comparative Accuracy and Limitations