Burnett Robert A, Wang Jennifer C, Gililland Jeremy M, Anderson Lucas A
From the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, UT.
J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2025 Feb 15;33(4):157-167. doi: 10.5435/JAAOS-D-24-00202. Epub 2024 Sep 20.
The original review article, published in 2006, describing leg length discrepancy after total hip arthroplasty commented that "equal leg length should not be guaranteed." There has been considerable advancement in surgical technique and technology over the past decade, allowing surgeons to "hit the target" much more consistently. In this interval paper, we review leg length discrepancy and introduce some technologies designed to mitigate this complication. In addition, we present challenging clinical scenarios in which perceived leg length may differ from true leg length and how these can be addressed with proper workup and surgical execution.