Why Do My Legs Have Different Length After Surgery?
There is ongoing debate in the medical literature about what degree of Leg Length Discrepancy (LLD) is clinically acceptable after total hip replacement.
- Leg length discrepancy is one of the most common complications following total hip arthroplasty.
- A short leg occurs in up to 30% of cases following hip replacement.
- There are reports that the average LLD following hip replacement varies from 3 to 17 mm.
It is not standard practice for most surgeons to measure for a short leg before or after surgery. In Dr. Horowitz’s experience, patients are mostly left on their own in this matter, often frustrated and confused as to what to do about it.
In an ideal world, a surgeon would measure the differences in leg length before and after knee or hip replacement surgery, so that during surgery, length differences can be assessed and corrected. However, it is not easy to assess leg length differences accurately during surgery. Often, it is the limb that is operated on that becomes lengthened/longer.
By one-month post-surgery, a hip prosthesis should be cemented in, and you should be capable of full weight bearing.
If you feel off balance or have ongoing pain by 4-6 weeks post-surgery, it is important to book an examination to have your leg lengths checked to determine if a heel lift is needed.
