title: Accuracy of intramedullary templates in femoral and tibial radiographs.
abstract: The accuracy of templates used for the preoperative planning of the fixation of intramedullary fractures depends on radiological magnification. To study the accuracy of these templates, we randomly selected 100 femoral and 100 tibial radiographs taken after stabilisation by an intramedullary nail using a standard technique. We then compared the known nail length with the corresponding measurements on the radiographs. The mean magnification factor for the femur was 9% and for the tibia 7%; these differ considerably from the range of magnification of the manufacturers' templates (femur, 15% to 17%; tibia 10% to 15%). We conclude that templates are unreliable for the selection of implant length and that this should be done by intraoperative measurements.
authors.affiliation: Trauma Department, Hannover Medical School, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Krettek
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blauth
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miclau
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rudolf
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Könemann
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schandelmaier
mesh_terms: D001858:Bone Nails; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*