Correlation Between the Forearm Plus Little Finger Length and The Actual Femoral Length in Orthopedic Patients Presenting with Femoral Shaft Fractures

Abstract

Objective: To determine the correlation between the forearm plus little finger length and the actual femoral length in orthopedic patients presenting with femoral shaft fractures at a teaching hospital in Islamabad.
Methodology:  This study was conducted at Department of Orthopedics, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad. Study design was descriptive cross-sectional study and the duration of study was one year (12-7-2015 to 12-7-2016), in which a total of 30 cases was observed. Ppatients of both genders aged between 18-70 years presenting with femoral shaft fractures. All the patients who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled into this study. A single resident measured forearm plus little finger length pre-operatively. Actual femoral length in centimeter was measured during operative procedure using a measuring tape. Patient’s demographic details and forearm plus little finger length and actual femoral lengths were recorded into the attached proforma.
Results:  The age of the patients ranged from 26 years to 59 years with a mean of 42.10±9.79 years. There were 27(90%) male and 3(10%) female patients in the study group. The forearm plus little finger length ranged from 38 cm to 44 cm with a mean of 40.97±2.28 cm. The actual femoral length ranged from 38 cm to 45 cm with a mean of 40.93±2.29 cm. There was significantly strong correlation between forearm plus little finger length and actual femoral length (r=.970; p=.000). When stratified, there was significantly strong correlation between forearm plus little finger length and actual femoral length across various age groups 26-36 years (r=.981, p=.000), 37-47 years (r=.946, p=.000), 48-59 years (r=.993, p=.000) and genders; male (r=.976, p=.000), female (r=.986, p=.000).
Conclusion:  There was significantly strong correlation between forearm plus little finger length and actual femoral length (r=.970; p=.000) regardless of patient age and gender.