Accuracy of Measuring Methods on the Femoral Head

In the process of a hip total or hemi-arthroplasty, patients have their femur measured and analysed in order to obtain a suitable hip implant for the operation. This study investigates the existing methods to measure the femoral head before a total or hemi- arthroplasty. In the experimental evaluation of the current study, the size of 15 femur head sample has been measured using four different methods: Vernier caliper, ring gauge, X-ray images and CT scan data. The results from various methods were compared and discussed. The objective of this study is to analyse the most effective mode of measurement for hemi-arthoplastic surgery. The accuracy and reliability of each method was analysed by taking measurements of the femoral head. Statistical analysis shows that the callipers and ring gauge are the most accurate next to CT and X-ray models. It was also observed that an under sizing by ±1 mm of the femoral head shows no definitive harm to a patient.