Measurement device and method for total hip arthroplasty

摘要

Postoperative change in lower extremity length during total hip arthroplasty is controlled by determining a control distance between proximal and distal fixed reference points on a control femur, wherein the control distance provides an indication of the length of the femoral head of the control femur, and adjusting a corresponding operative distance between corresponding proximal and distal fixed reference points on a corresponding operative femur of a lower extremity in relation to the control distance. The method employs provisional femoral heads comprising a pin inserted into the axis of rotation of the head whereby when the head is installed on an operative femur, the axis of the pin is perpendicular to the axis of the femur.