Incidence and effect of leg length discrepancy following total hip arthroplasty

bjectives The clinical importance of a leg length discrepancy (LLD) following total hip arthroplasty (THA) remains controversial. This tudy was undertaken to determine the effects of LLD on clinical outcomes at up to 3 years follow-up. esign and setting Prospective, multicentre study. articipants Nine hundred and eighty-seven cases of primary THA, categorised into two main groups: the NoLLD group (LLD of less than 0 mm) and the LLD group (LLD of 10 mm or more). ain outcome measures The primary outcome measure was the change in Oxford Hip Score ( OHS) at up to 3 years follow-up. Secondary utcome measures were length of operating time and hospital stay, and revision and dislocation rates. Potential predisposing factors for LLD, ncluding body mass index, age and type of anaesthesia employed, were examined. esults At 3 years, the LLD group had a significantly worse OHS [22.0; 95% confidence interval (CI) 20.5 to 23.5] compared with the oLLD group (23.8; 95% CI 23.1 to 24.5) (P= 0.034). There were no significant differences in revision (P= 0.389) or dislocation (P= 0.220) ates between the two groups. Use of an epidural was associated with a decreased incidence of developing an LLD of 10 mm (P= 0.004). onclusion A postoperative LLD of 10 mm or more leads to poorer functional outcomes. Further studies are needed to assess the impact of n LLD on clinical outcomes in the longer term. 2008 Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.