Different per-operative techniques to evaluate limb length discrepancy in hip arthroplasty.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the limb length discrepancy (LLD) among patients going through total hip arthroplasty using different per-operative techniques. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Agha Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. Period: 1^st June 2023 to 30^th December 2023. Methods: Trauma patients of both genders, aged less than 50 years, with inflammatory or non-inflammatory degenerative joint diseases, peri-prosthetic fractures, or Garden type 2, 3, or 4 neck of femur fractures, avascular necrosis of the hip or developmental dysplasia of the hip were analyzed. Following implant placement, the limb length discrepancy was assessed by either direct, indirect, or Judd pin method. The distance was compared with the contralateral side being the same if there had been no LLD. LLD was further categorized as type-I, II, III or IV as 0-5 mm, >5-10 mm, >10-15 mm, or >15mm, respectively. Results: In a total of 52 patients, 34 (65.4%) female and 18 (34.6%) male. The mean age was 63.02±7.74 years. The mean LLD was 3.40±3.90 mm. The LLD in indirect, Judd pin, and direct method were 4.16±5.06, 2.00±2.17, and 3.62±2.57, respectively. The LLD was ≤ 10 mm in 94.2% patients. Conclusion: The LLD in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty seems acceptable in vast majority of the patients with respect to common approaches adopted for assessing the LLD.