They can’t measure distances that small inside an operating room.
What they do is get an extremely accurate survey of the coordinates of the operating room table, and mark the sheet with a small X.
Then they put the patient’s hip socket over that calibrated X. Then they put a piece of reflective foil on the big toe.
Then they get a guy out in the parking lot with a very accurate GPS and paint an X at that spot, with a clear view through a window to the operating room table and the piece of reflective foil on the toe.
He uses a laser rangefinder to measure the distance to the big toe very accurately and records it. He then takes a break while they operate.
The surgeon then cuts off the leg, puts in the new parts, and partially reassembles them. He then calls the guy on break to go back to the parking lot.
That guy gets back on the spot, takes another measurement of the toe on the reassembled leg and then works with the surgeon to move the toe back to the original position, making an exact match of the length.
The surgeon finishes up and submits his bill.
If you read this far you qualify for employment as President Obama’s Science Advisor or Surgeon General.
I’m in agreement with those calling foul on this. Having used several GPS units... none are accurate to less than a couple of meters and three units sitting near each other routinely read different coordinates.
(and for the record, that’s a plausible article, LOL!)