Fracture stiffness measurement after removal of the external fixator. A gomiometer system is used to measure the deflection of the bone under loading (L: Distance between fracture and load cell, F: load at the heel). (Adapted and reproduced with permission and copyright © of the British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery from Richardson JB, Cunningham JL, Goodship AE, O’Connor BT, Kenwright J. Measuring stiffness can define healing of tibial fractures. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1994;76:389–394.)