title: Leg length discrepancy in total hip arthroplasty with the use of cemented and uncemented femoral stems. A prospective radiological study.
abstract: Leg length discrepancy may occur following total hip arthroplasty, with a potentially impaired functional outcome as a result. The aim of this study was to compare the leg length discrepancy between both cemented and uncemented femoral stems when used in total hip arthroplasty. A prospective radiological study of 200 consecutive primary total hip arthroplasties was performed between June 2005 and December 2006. Pre and post-operative radiographs were analysed. 56 (56%) of the total hip arthroplasties where an uncemented femoral stem was used had a leg length discrepancy over 1 cm. However only 23 (23%) of the total hip arthroplasties with a cemented femoral stem had a leg length discrepancy over 1 cm. The use of cemented femoral stems in total hip arthroplasty results in a lower incidence of leg length discrepancy, with a potentially better functional outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Frenchay Hospital, Bristol, UK. riazhzi@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Riaz
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Vinod
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Harvey
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sandhu
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bishay
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001843:Bone Cements; D005260:Female; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D007870:Leg Length Inequality / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements