Guest guest Posted March 5, 2004 Report Share Posted March 5, 2004 hello- i can tell you about me. i had about a 1 inch " apparent " leg length discrepency before surgery. this was when i was standing or walking. my posture was very crooked after some years of being unbalanced due to a bunch of reasons. it made my bad leg seem shorter. however, i had my legs measured from a sitting position and this indicated that my legs were about equal length, but my pelvic twist-tilt gave the illusion of a length difference. i developed this incorrect posture over time as a means to compensate for pain, injury and instability in my other leg. once the muscles adapt themselves to this " planet of the apes " type of movement, then it just holds you in a posture that will surely accelerate any joint degeneration (at least this is what i suspect). dr. de smet told me not to worry, he said it will all become normal after the surgery. well, now is after surgery, and i am as balanced as i have been in several years. it makes you feel 20 years younger. i can stand up straight again. it's great! others have written here about " actual " leg length discrepency. i'm not sure how much of a difference in length can be achieved. i believe there is a woman here who had dysplasia and required the bhr " dysplasia cup " . because of the strength of the screw-fixation, the doctor was able to position the acetabular cup in such a way as to correct the difference to some degree. sorry, i don't remember the details. but i do remember the thread mentioning that it is an insignificant amount of difference with a standard re-surfacing, a modest amount with the technique of acetabular cup placement, but not nearly as much as with a standard thr stem. again, don't hold me to it, but i think that was the jist of it. best of luck, jeff lbhr de smet 11-19-2003 p.s. did you try doing a search of the messages for " leg length " ? leg length changes I have read postings by others that they believe that their legs have changed lengths after their operations. Most don't say if they have gotten longer or shorter, just changed. What is it? Will I have to stoop over or buy a ladder? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 Hi Max As I understand it to keep the leg length the same would mean the metal thickness would have to be equal to the arthritic bone removed, The level of arthritis varies from person to person. It would be somewhat impractical to have different metal thicknesses so a small discrepancy exists. For most people this difference becomes unnoticeable - either straight away or after a few months - it is an issue with THR (total hip replacement) as well - probably more so. If you are worried have a word with your OS. For most people the leg length change is totally unnoticeable. Rog BHR 2001 R.Treacy leg length changes > I have read postings by others that they believe that their legs have > changed lengths after their operations. Most don't say if they have > gotten longer or shorter, just changed. What is it? Will I have to > stoop over or buy a ladder? > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 Hi, my operated leg is now 1/2 " longer. I am hoping that when I have my other hip done they may be evened up. This I believe has happened because my old hip is worn down. It's not really a problem as you can either have an insole of the difference to go in your shoe, or height difference added to your shoe. Hope this helps and makes sense, Sheila. In surfacehippy , " max56537 " wrote: > I have read postings by others that they believe that their legs have > changed lengths after their operations. Most don't say if they have > gotten longer or shorter, just changed. What is it? Will I have to > stoop over or buy a ladder? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 There is less of a leg lenghening risk with surfing than THRs, but it can happen. And if you have a slight difference to begin with, another fraction of an inch that is achieved to help rectify defective acetabular anatomy can really detract from the otherwise wonderful results. My advice: Insist on being measured pre-op and discuss this with your doctor pre-op. Many times the docs will tell you all will be well after your other hip is done, but I would have much preferred to know this before going in. Best, Sheila > hello- > > i can tell you about me. > > i had about a 1 inch " apparent " leg length > discrepency before surgery. this was when > i was standing or walking. my posture was > very crooked after some years of being > unbalanced due to a bunch of reasons. > it made my bad leg seem shorter. > > however, i had my legs measured from a > sitting position and this indicated that my > legs were about equal length, but my pelvic > twist-tilt gave the illusion of a length difference. > > i developed this incorrect posture over time as > a means to compensate for pain, injury and > instability in my other leg. once the muscles adapt > themselves to this " planet of the apes " type of movement, > then it just holds you in a posture that will surely accelerate > any joint degeneration (at least this is what i suspect). > > dr. de smet told me not to worry, he said it will > all become normal after the surgery. > > well, now is after surgery, and i am as balanced > as i have been in several years. it makes you > feel 20 years younger. i can stand up straight again. > it's great! > > others have written here about " actual " leg length > discrepency. i'm not sure how much of a difference > in length can be achieved. i believe there is a woman here > who had dysplasia and required the bhr " dysplasia cup " . > because of the strength of the screw-fixation, the > doctor was able to position the acetabular cup in such > a way as to correct the difference to some degree. > > sorry, i don't remember the details. but i do remember > the thread mentioning that it is an insignificant amount > of difference with a standard re-surfacing, a modest amount > with the technique of acetabular cup placement, but not nearly > as much as with a standard thr stem. again, don't hold me to it, > but i think that was the jist of it. > > best of luck, > > jeff > lbhr de smet 11-19-2003 > > p.s. did you try doing a search of the messages for " leg length " ? > > > leg length changes > > > I have read postings by others that they believe that their legs have > changed lengths after their operations. Most don't say if they have > gotten longer or shorter, just changed. What is it? Will I have to > stoop over or buy a ladder? > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 Left C2K, left leg is 1 cm longer. Right hip does show signs of wear but no discomfort yet. That will acount for part of the difference. I just use a heel lift ... not a problem. > I have read postings by others that they believe that their legs have > changed lengths after their operations. Most don't say if they have > gotten longer or shorter, just changed. What is it? Will I have to > stoop over or buy a ladder? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 I asked Dr. Gross at my 6-week if he ended up lengthening my leg any. He said possibly just a little. But it was only because I was bone-on-bone for so long pre-op, and I now have a healthy joint. I have every reason to believe my legs are now matching lengths, as they probably were seven years ago before my pain began. I hope that helps. > I have read postings by others that they believe that their legs have > changed lengths after their operations. Most don't say if they have > gotten longer or shorter, just changed. What is it? Will I have to > stoop over or buy a ladder? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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