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True Leg Length Discrepancy

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True Leg Length Discrepancy, Leg Length Discrepancy, Limb Length Discrepancy, Leg Length Inequality

  • See Also
  1. Functional Leg Length Discrepancy
  • Causes
  1. Idiopathic unilateral hyperplasia or hypoplasia
  2. Growth Plate injury
    1. Trauma
    2. Infection
  3. Asymmetric paralysis
    1. Poliomyelitis
    2. Cerebral Palsy
  4. Mass induced growth
    1. Tumor
    2. Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
    3. Post-Fracture hypervascularity
  • Exam
  • Fixed point to fixed point testing
  1. Position
    1. Patient lies supine with legs in neutral position
  2. Measurement (compare both sides)
    1. Anterior superior iliac spine to medial malleolus
  3. Interpretation
    1. Leg Length Discrepancy if difference between sides
  • Exam
  • Evaluate tibia and femur lengths
  1. Position
    1. Patient lies supine
    2. Knees flexed at 90 degrees and feet flat on table
  2. Interpretation
    1. One knee higher than other: Tibia longer
    2. One knee projects further anteriorly: femur longer
  • Management
  • True Limb Length Discrepancy >1.5 cm
  1. Shoe lift or prosthetic conversion
  2. Surgical intervention
    1. Epiphysiodesis of long leg
    2. Long leg shortening or short leg lengthening
  • Complications
  1. Compensatory Scoliosis
  2. Low Back Pain
  3. Gait abnormalities with secondary injuries
  • References
  1. Canale (1998) Campbell's Orthopaedics, Mosby, p. 986
  2. Hoppenfeld (1976) Spine and Extremities, p. 165