Intraoperative limb length measurement in total hip arthroplasty

Limb-length discrepancy after total hip arthroplasty.

Limb-length discrepancy, to one degree or another, is a problem that must be reckoned with after total hip arthroplasty (THA). It must be addressed as both a clinical issue for patients and, unfortunately, a potential medicolegal problem. Although a small limb-length discrepancy may cause no symptoms or may not be perceived, a large limb-length discrepancy may cause nerve palsy, low back pain, ...

The Influence of Limb Position on Leg Length and Offset Measurement during Total Hip Arthroplasty

Introduction: It has been noticed that restoring the offset and equalization of the leg length during the total hip arthroplasty, THA, reduces the risk of the dislocation, limping, and polyethylene wear(1,2). However, ensuring both the leg length and offset according to pre-operative planning during the surgery is a challenging task. One of practical methods to improve the consistency is to mea...

L-shaped caliper for limb length measurement during total hip arthroplasty.

The existing methods of assessing limb lengthening during total hip arthroplasty (THA) are prone to error because the measurements are not parallel to the limb lengthening axis. In order to address this, we designed a caliper to estimate limb lengthening during THA and evaluated its accuracy compared with our previous device, the straight caliper. Limb lengths were measured in 100 patients. The...

Intraoperative Periprosthetic Fractures During Total Hip Arthroplasty

Leg-length discrepancy after total hip arthroplasty.

Leg-length discrepancy after total hip arthroplasty can pose a substantial problem for the orthopaedic surgeon. Such discrepancy has been associated with complications including nerve palsy, low back pain, and abnormal gait. Careful preoperative measurement and assessment, as well as preoperative and postoperative patient education, are important factors in achieving an acceptable result. Howev...