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Anyone suffer from leg length discrepancy following a hip replacement

Posted by Norm Dreyer @ndreyer, 2 days ago

I was told by the orthopedic surgeon that he aligned everything perfectly when replacing hip, but the discrepancy is still there after 18 months and lots of physical therapy. Now causing significant lack pain.

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vmwjbc | @vmwjbc | 1 day ago

I bought an item titled
EVEN UP (amazon)
It attaches to the bottom of your shoe which helps to keep legs even length
Even if dr did line up its highly likely they are not even

REPLY
1 reply
collierga | @collierga | 1 day ago

I had my first hip surgery 5 yrs ago
Told it was successful
My PT discovered I had a hip discrepancy. Used a lift in my shoe
After my 2 nd hip
Surgery my surgeon did lengthen my leg a bit with the new insert. I still have a insert but a smaller one
No one ever told me pre op that this frequently happens after total hip replacements

REPLY
steveinarizona | @steveinarizona | 19 hours ago

Did you expect the surgeon to tell you he did not align it correctly? Measuring twice, cutting once applies to surgeons as well as carpenters. My hip surgeon took detailed measurements and then monitored my gait thereafter. That was also the very first thing my physical therapist did as well.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4040374/
It is not an exact science so outcomes can vary. My surgeon threw out the hospital's 10 page dos and don't after hip surgery and told me that the only important advice was to "be a couch potato for the first five weeks because the only thing I can't do is make bones grow". He was a great surgeon and that was great advice albeit psychologically hard to follow. Proper measurements will account for that bone growth.

I would have felt better if your surgeon said this can happen after hip surgery and these are the steps we take if that happens. The blanket "I did everything perfectly" just doesn't sound right.

REPLY
1 reply
Norm Dreyer | @ndreyer | 9 hours ago
In reply to @vmwjbc "I bought an item titled EVEN UP (amazon) It attaches to the bottom of your shoe..." + (show)
@vmwjbc

I bought an item titled
EVEN UP (amazon)
It attaches to the bottom of your shoe which helps to keep legs even length
Even if dr did line up its highly likely they are not even

Jump to this post

Thanks for the tip.
Just watched several reviews of the even up product and it looks great, but appears to be more for temporary relief perhaps following surgery that requires a "boot" to be worn.

REPLY
Norm Dreyer | @ndreyer | 9 hours ago
In reply to @steveinarizona "Did you expect the surgeon to tell you he did not align it correctly? Measuring twice,..." + (show)
@steveinarizona

Did you expect the surgeon to tell you he did not align it correctly? Measuring twice, cutting once applies to surgeons as well as carpenters. My hip surgeon took detailed measurements and then monitored my gait thereafter. That was also the very first thing my physical therapist did as well.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4040374/
It is not an exact science so outcomes can vary. My surgeon threw out the hospital's 10 page dos and don't after hip surgery and told me that the only important advice was to "be a couch potato for the first five weeks because the only thing I can't do is make bones grow". He was a great surgeon and that was great advice albeit psychologically hard to follow. Proper measurements will account for that bone growth.

I would have felt better if your surgeon said this can happen after hip surgery and these are the steps we take if that happens. The blanket "I did everything perfectly" just doesn't sound right.

Jump to this post

I agree. This was my second THA. I never had this problem with the other THA. No one mentioned the possible LLD before surgery.

REPLY
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