Determining Bilateral Leg Lengths

Determining Bilateral Leg Lengths

Jim DuGosh

5/11/2009

Thank you list for the many responses. There appeared to be a lot of interest in the subject and I received many different techniques for solving this problem. Some of the ideas were very objective and practical while others were more involved and science based. Remember that I was looking for a technique that the hospital could use for their own reasons, not a practical idea. Therefore, the common sense ideas of asking the patient how tall they were or getting a pair of their old pants were not what I was looking for. Besides, with the way some kids wear there pants today, that would not be a good idea. I did have one of my classmates tell me that if I had went through a better program I would know the answer. I will list them in no particular order.



The most common (and common sense) response was to measure the patient's arm span from middle finger to middle finger. I think this is a good ballpark starting point and the one I use when I use one. One person suggested this and then reduce the height by 5% and another suggested taking off 5 inches, both to help with standing from a chair.




The Carlyle Formula is listed at the Academy web site. To find it, Google Carlyle Formula. This is a body proportions index.




Several people sent me an Anthropometric chart which measures each body segment as a function of the overall height. It was fairly easy to use and pretty accurate. I can forward this diagram if anyone wants it.




Measure the patient's e
picondyle to styloid and divide by 0.14 to get height  in inches or measure the patient's epicondyle to thumb tip and divide by 0.21.




I received one list of multiples proposed by a German prosthetist used in WW1. I will send these to anyone interested but they seemed to be similar to the diagram.




Thanks again,

Jim Dugosh, CPO