Management of limb length discrepancy during total hip replacement
- VernacularTitle:全髋关节置换术下肢不等长的处理
- Author:
Jianhua YU
;
Tieliang ZHANG
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Arthroplasty, replacement, hip;
Hip prosthesis; Forecasting
- From:
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics
2001;0(05):-
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To investigate the management of limb length discrepancy during total hip replacement. Methods Forty-four hips of 44 patients undergone unilateral primary total hip replacement between July 1997 and July 2000 were included in this study. There were 30 males and 14 females. The ages of the patients at the surgery ranged from 42 to 80 years(mean, 65.8 years). Evaluation of the limb length discrepancy through clinical measurements and radiographic templates was done preoperatively to anticipate the optimal implantation position of the components and determine the level of expected femoral neck cut to maintain the equality of the limbs. During the surgery, the distance between two reference points made at pelvis and femur were measured before femoral neck osteotomy was performed based on preoperatively estimated parameters. The distance between the two points was measured again after insertion of the trail components in order to adjust the offsets of the femoral neck and head. Results Of the 30 patients with shortened limb ranging 1.5 to 5 cm preoperatively, only 4 had limb length discrepancy between 1.5 and 2 cm after surgery. Of the 14 patients with equal limb length preoperatively, only one limb had been lengthened more than 1.0 cm postoperatively compared with its contralateral limb. Conclusion The preoperative measurements, templating and intraoperative corrections are helpful in minimizing limb length discrepancy during total hip replacements and correcting preoperative limb length discrepancy as well.