Limb Length Discrepancy in Total Hip Arthroplasty: Is the Lesser Trochanter a Reliable Measure of Leg Length?

Background: Limb length discrepancy (LLD) after total hip arthroplasty may affect clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction. Preoperative LLD estimates on anteroposterior pelvic radiographs fail to account for anatomical limb variation distal to the femoral reference points. The objective of this study is to determine how variations in lower limb skeletal lengths contribute to true LLD.

Methods: Full-length standing anteroposterior radiographs were used to measure bilateral leg length, femoral length, and tibial length. Leg length was evaluated using 2 different proximal reference points: the center of the femoral head (COH) and the lesser trochanter (LT). Mean side-to-side discrepancy (MD) and percentage asymmetry (%AS) for each measurement were evaluated in the overall cohort and when stratified by patient demographic variables.

Results: One hundred patients were included with an average age of 62.9 ± 11.2 years. Average femoral length was 434.0 ± 39.8 mm (MD 4.3 ± 3.5 mm) and tibial length was 379.9 ± 34.6 mm (MD 5.9 ± 12.7 mm). Average COH-talus was 817.5 ± 73.2 mm (MD 6.4 ± 5.1 mm). Average LT-talus was 760.5 ± 77.6 mm (MD 5.8 ± 5.1 mm). Absolute asymmetry >10 mm was detected in 16% of patients for COH-talus and 15% for LT-talus, while %AS >1.5% was detected in 13% of patients for COH-talus and 18% for LT-talus. Female gender was associated with increased femoral length %AS (P = .037).

Conclusion: Approximately 1 in 6 patients have an LLD of >10 mm when measured from either the LT or COH. Surgeons using either of these common femoral reference points to estimate LLD on pelvic radiographs should consider these findings when planning for hip reconstruction.

Level Of Evidence: Level III.