Hip surgeons and leg length inequality after primary hip replacement
Loughenbury, F. A., McWilliams, A. B., Stewart, T. D., Redmond, A. C., & Stone, M. H. (2019).Hip
Background:
This study reports the results of 2 separate surveys of British Hip Society (BHS) members relating to leg length inequality (LLI) after primary total hip replacement (THR).
Survey 1:
Investigates the members’ opinions on the effect of LLI on the outcome of THR and explores the acceptable limits of LLI.
Survey 2:
Reports on the intraoperative techniques currently used by BHS members to minimise LLI after THR.
Results – Survey 1:
97% of all surgeons completing the survey believed that LLI can affect the outcome of THR.
Results – Survey 2:
All surgeons reported using at least 1 intraoperative technique for assessing leg length with a median of 5 techniques. Over 50% of surgeons use 2 or more tests.
Conclusion – Survey 1:
89% of surgeons agreed that 15 mm of LLI after primary uncomplicated THR was always acceptable. 90% of surgeons felt that LLI more than 22.74 mm was never acceptable.
Conclusion – Survey 2:
Despite the multiple published papers on various methods of assessing leg length intraoperatively, the problem of LLI post THR persists. This study highlights the need for further research to develop a simple intraoperative technique with high accuracy and reproducibility.
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