Functional Leg Length Inequality Following THA

Hwang, Sung Kwan; Kim, Jong Bong

Abstract

This is a follow up study on consecutive series 50 patients of total hip arthroplasty to assess for transient leg-length inequality. The authors report a clinical experience of 50 patients who have been pelvis tilt before total hip replacement. Retrospectively reviewed for the presence of pelvic obliquity preoperative and at the 1, 3 and 6 months follow-up visits. The results were as follows. Fourty-eight patients(96%) with functional leg length inequality related pelvic obliquity were improved within 6months postoperative follow up period after total hip arthroplasty. Two patients(4%) had persistent functional leg length inequality that affected factors-old age, female and soft tissue tightness due to pelvic obliquity. We believe that in most of these patients, the transient functional leg length inequality has a self-limited course, whereas in a small number, the profoud sense of inequality remains.