PUBLIC LIBRARY / CALCULATOR

Capurro method (somatic)

Estimates newborn gestational age by physical examination when obstetric dating is unknown or uncertain.

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Method · Limits of application

Capurro 1978 somatic 5 signs: 204+points; not somatoneurological Capurro 200+points

This tool implements somatic Capurro, with five physical signs and the constant 204, not the somatoneurological variant. The consulted Brazilian Ministry of Health neonatal guidance describes its use in newborns from 29 weeks, especially when menstrual dating is unknown. Performance in extremely preterm infants below that range is not assumed. The signs require an appropriate physical examination; an ear temporarily flattened by the birth position must not be treated as reflecting maturity. In Table 11 of the official Ministry of Health guidance, second updated edition of 2014, the 10-point nipple-formation option describes a diameter greater than 7.5 mm and a border that is not raised. This is a reading of the official reproduction, not a full review of the original 1978 article. Correcting the label preserves the code and the 10 points; it does not validate the physical examination or resolve equality boundaries not specified in the figure.

Required fields: 0/5 completed

Complete all required fields. Optional fields are marked.

Skin texture required

Ear shape required

Breast gland size required

Nipple formation required

Plantar creases required

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Conditions of use

Check the population, units, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and version in the original source. A result alone does not establish a diagnosis, discharge decision or prescription.

Documented parameters

Skin texture
Ear shape
Breast gland size
Nipple formation
Plantar creases

4/4 reference cases checked. Numerical tests are not clinical validation.

Sources and documentation

Documented formula

Transcribed from the source or a recorded revision; this is not a clinical recommendation.

Gestational age (days) = 204 + sum of points for the 5 somatic signs. Divide by 7 for weeks.

Capurro also described a somatoneurological form (constant 200, with neurological signs); this calculator uses only the somatic form, independent of the newborn’s neurological state.

References

Identifier: metodo-de-capurro

Original clinical content: Brazilian Portuguese.

Method version

Capurro 1978 somatic 5 signs: 204+points; not somatoneurological Capurro 200+points

metodo-de-capurro@native-2026-10-03+f1ddb0fcf2e4

Source for the active edition

The bibliographic edition identifies the source. By itself, it proves neither full conformity of the formula nor clinical approval.

Synthetic cases checked (4)

Synthetic cases for checking the implementation, with no patient data.

Case 1

reference-001

Inputs

Skin texture: Very thin, gelatinous
Ear shape: Flat, misshapen, pinna not curved
Breast gland size: Not palpable
Nipple formation: Barely visible, no areola
Plantar creases: No creases

{
  "pele": "0",
  "orelha": "0",
  "mama": "0",
  "mamilo": "0",
  "pregas": "0"
}

Expected result

{
  "dias": 204
}

Actual result

{
  "soma": 0,
  "dias": 204
}

Case 2

reference-002

Inputs

Skin texture: Slightly thicker, mild superficial peeling
Ear shape: Pinna partly curved throughout its upper part
Breast gland size: Between 5 and 10 mm
Nipple formation: Punctate areola, border not raised, diameter greater than 7.5 mm
Plantar creases: Creases on the anterior half

{
  "pele": "10",
  "orelha": "16",
  "mama": "10",
  "mamilo": "10",
  "pregas": "15"
}

Expected result

{
  "soma": 61,
  "dias": 265
}

Actual result

{
  "soma": 61,
  "dias": 265
}

Case 3

reference-003

Inputs

Skin texture: Slightly thicker, mild superficial peeling
Ear shape: Pinna partly curved at the rim
Breast gland size: Between 5 and 10 mm
Nipple formation: Punctate areola, border not raised, diameter greater than 7.5 mm
Plantar creases: Creases on the anterior half

{
  "pele": "10",
  "orelha": "8",
  "mama": "10",
  "mamilo": "10",
  "pregas": "15"
}

Expected result

{
  "dias": 257
}

Actual result

{
  "soma": 53,
  "dias": 257
}

Case 4

reference-004

Inputs

Skin texture: Thick, parchment-like, with deep fissures
Ear shape: Pinna fully curved
Breast gland size: Greater than 10 mm
Nipple formation: Stippled areola, raised edge, diameter greater than 7.5 mm
Plantar creases: Creases extending beyond the anterior half

{
  "pele": "20",
  "orelha": "24",
  "mama": "15",
  "mamilo": "15",
  "pregas": "20"
}

Expected result

{
  "dias": 298
}

Actual result

{
  "soma": 94,
  "dias": 298
}

Code and reproducibility

This tool’s code on GitHub

Download code and tests

Sources, version and reproduction instructions

The code tests are technical checks. Clinical approval and professional translation review are recorded separately.

Relationship with cancer research

General context — relationship to be defined

A resource for general clinical contexts. This edition does not assign a specific oncological relationship; selecting it for a study requires a justified question, population and purpose.