title: Estimating tibial nail length using forearm referencing.
abstract: Tibial nail length can be estimated pre-operatively by several methods, but this usually requires an intact contralateral tibia. The purpose of this study is to describe an alternative method using the forearm as a reference. A simple clinical method using a forearm measurement is described. This method gives an accurate estimation of the likely range of nail length's that may be required using a simple formula.
authors.affiliation: blair_stephen@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blair
mesh_terms: D001858:Bone Nails; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D013977:Tibia / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery