Leg length discrepancy (LLD) after total hip arthroplasty (THA) prevents functional recovery and reduces patient satisfaction. We investigated impact of changes in patient-perceived LLD on patient satisfaction and walking ability.
one hundred and forty-nine patients with unilateral hip osteoarthritis undergoing THA from 2014 to 2017, (125 women, 24 men; average age, 68.5 years) with an objective LLD < 1 cm were included. Outcome measures included the patient-perceived LLD, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) index, 10-m walking speed, and affected leg loading rate, assessed preoperatively and at 3 weeks, 3 months, and 1 year postoperatively.
The absolute patient-perceived LLD (mean ± SD) (the number of patients with perceived LLD > 5 mm) were 6.4 ± 9.6 mm [88 patients (59%)] preoperatively; and 2.2 ± 4.0 mm [48 (32%); p < 0.001], 0.7 ± 2.3 mm [17 (11%); p < 0.001], and 0.4 ± 1.6 mm [10 (7%); p = 0.095] at 3 weeks, 3 months, and 1 year postoperatively, respectively. All outcome measures improved over time. One year postoperatively, a weak positive correlation between the patient-perceived LLD and WOMAC or 10-m walking speed (r = 0.24, 0.23, respectively) was found. The risk of patient-perceived LLD persisting > 1 year postoperatively was 5.5-fold higher in patients who exhibited it at 3 months and those with a WOMAC score > 10 at 3 months postoperatively, using multivariate logistic regression.
Therapeutic level IV.
Achieving a post-THA objective LLD < 1 cm significantly reduced the patient-perceived LLD up to 3 months postoperatively. The residual patient-perceived LLD at 1 year postoperatively was predicted from the WOMAC score or the presence of patient-perceived LLD at 3 months after THA.