Method and apparatus for leg length discrepancy measurement
View Patent ↗An apparatus and method for determining difference in leg height of a standing patient by making a first measurement while the patient stands on a first foot, making a second measurement while the patient stands on a second foot, and determining the vertical distance between the first measurement and the second measurement. One embodiment incorporates a scale with a sliding wide measurement plate to measure the top of the head. Another embodiment provides a wide height measurement plate to retrofit existing height scales, and a fabrication kit for making that plate. In another embodiment the patient wears an apron with reference markings which may be observed through a movable reference grid. The observation may be manual or optically with a camera or scanner.
1. A method for measuring differences in leg length of a patient, the method comprising:
positioning the standing patient adjacent to a vertical scale, the scale having a measurement plate, while the patient stands on a first foot;
sliding the measuring plate to the top of the patient's head;
obtaining a first measurement by reading a height of a portion of the measurement plate relative to the vertical scale;
sliding the measurement plate away from the patient's head;
positioning the standing patient adjacent to the vertical scale, while the patient stands on a second foot;
obtaining a second measurement by reading the height of a portion measurement plate relative to the vertical scale; and
attributing the difference between the first measurement and the second measurement to the difference in leg length.
2. A method for measuring differences in leg length of a patient, the method comprising:
providing at least one externally visible reference point for the patient;
providing a substantially transparent reference grid, such that the reference point may be viewed through the reference grid, and such that the vertical position of the reference point may be observed and recorded relative to the grid;
instructing the patient to stand in proximity to the reference grid while placing substantially all of the patient's weight on a first foot;
making a first measurement by recording the position of the reference point relative to the reference grid;
instructing the patient to stand in proximity to the reference grid while placing substantially all of the patient's weight on a second foot;
making a second measurement by recording the position of the reference point relative to the reference grid;
determining the vertical distance differences between the first measurement the second measurement; and
attributing the vertical distance difference to the difference in leg height.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein providing at least one externally visible reference point for a patient comprises:
the patient wearing an apron having at least one reference mark.
4. A method for measuring differences in leg length of a patient, the method comprising:
instructing the patient to stand while placing substantially all of the patient's weight on a first foot;
determining a first vertical position of a reference point relative to the patient;
instructing the patient to stand while placing substantially all of the patient's weight on a second foot;
determining the second vertical position of the reference point relative to the patient;
determining the vertical distance difference between the first vertical position of the reference point and the second vertical position of the reference point; and
attributing the vertical distance difference to the difference in leg height.