Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesPreventionConsequencesCorrection
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Table of Contents
Causes
Prevention
Consequences
Correction
Leg length discrepancy afterhip replacementcan occur due to the size of the implants used and the measures your surgeon needs to take to ensure they are securely in place. When one leg ends up longer than the other, it’s most often the leg on the side that the hip was operated on.
This article discusses why hip replacement surgery sometimes causes a leg length discrepancy, the issues this can cause, and how it can either be prevented or corrected.
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What Causes Leg Length Discrepancy?
When you undergo a hip replacement, it’s important that the new ball and socket are stable, so they will not come out of position.
The downside of placing these larger implants is the lengthening of the limb. Ideally, your surgeon wants the leg lengths to end up being symmetric, but that is not always the final result.
The size of the implants and exactly how they are placed will determine the length of the leg after surgery.
Hip Replacement Dislocation
Preventing Leg Length Discrepancy
To prevent a postoperative leg length discrepancy, your surgeon will create templates using X-rays of your hip and overlays of thehip replacement prosthesis.
This can help your surgeon determine two things:
There are some surgical techniques that may lower the chance of developing a significant leg length discrepancy. With some approaches, such asanterior hip replacement, surgeons may feel more comfortable restoring leg length without having to worry about dislocation risk.
In addition, some surgeons are now using computer-guided systems to help confirm the position and size of the hip replacement implants. Computer-guided surgery is the operating room equivalent to driving with the help of a GPS system. It shows your anatomy on a screen to help guide the positioning of the implants.
An Overview of Hip Replacement Surgery
Consequences of a Leg Length Discrepancy
Interestingly, many people with severe degenerativearthritis of their hip jointdevelop a leg length discrepancy over time. It is not uncommon for these people to have a leg length discrepancypriorto undergoing hip replacement as a result of cartilage and bone wearing away from the hip joint.
Your surgeon may correct this when a total hip replacement is performed. After surgery, you may still have the sensation of having legs of different lengths, though that’s no longer the case. Most people gradually adapt to having symmetrical legs again, and the sensation usually goes away.
Correcting Leg Length Discrepancy
Your surgeon can help you understand why your leg lengths are different. In some cases, a leg length difference may have been anticipated, and in others, unexpected.
A small leg length discrepancy after hip replacement is usually corrected with a lift in the shoe of the shorter leg. If the discrepancy is more than about 2 centimeters, then a build-up of the sole of the shoe may be necessary.
It is important to note that differences in leg length have not been shown to affecthow long the hip replacement will last.
Revision or Second Hip Replacement Surgery
Summary
After hip replacement surgery, some people will notice that the opposite leg seems shorter than the one that was operated on. This can happen when the surgeon needs to create stability in the new ball and socket, so it won’t dislocate.
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hospital for Special Surgery.Anterior hip replacement: an overview.Desai AS, Dramis A, Board TN.Leg length discrepancy after total hip arthroplasty: a review of literature.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2013;6(4):336-41. doi:10.1007/s12178-013-9180-0Additional ReadingSculco PK, Cottino U, Abdel MP, Sierra RJ.Avoiding hip instability and limb length discrepancy after total hip arthroplasty.Orthop Clin North Am.2016;47(2):327-34. doi:10.1016/j.ocl.2015.09.006
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hospital for Special Surgery.Anterior hip replacement: an overview.Desai AS, Dramis A, Board TN.Leg length discrepancy after total hip arthroplasty: a review of literature.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2013;6(4):336-41. doi:10.1007/s12178-013-9180-0Additional ReadingSculco PK, Cottino U, Abdel MP, Sierra RJ.Avoiding hip instability and limb length discrepancy after total hip arthroplasty.Orthop Clin North Am.2016;47(2):327-34. doi:10.1016/j.ocl.2015.09.006
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Hospital for Special Surgery.Anterior hip replacement: an overview.Desai AS, Dramis A, Board TN.Leg length discrepancy after total hip arthroplasty: a review of literature.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2013;6(4):336-41. doi:10.1007/s12178-013-9180-0
Hospital for Special Surgery.Anterior hip replacement: an overview.
Desai AS, Dramis A, Board TN.Leg length discrepancy after total hip arthroplasty: a review of literature.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2013;6(4):336-41. doi:10.1007/s12178-013-9180-0
Sculco PK, Cottino U, Abdel MP, Sierra RJ.Avoiding hip instability and limb length discrepancy after total hip arthroplasty.Orthop Clin North Am.2016;47(2):327-34. doi:10.1016/j.ocl.2015.09.006
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