title: Association between leg length discrepancy and posterior tibial tendon dysfunction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Leg length discrepancy (LLD) is associated with a variety of orthopaedic disorders and biomechanical gait changes that involve possible overload of the posterior tibial tendon (PTT). In view of the biomechanical disturbances induced by LLD, an association may exist between LLD and PTT dysfunction (PTTD).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the frequency and magnitude of LLD between subjects with and without PTTD and ascertain whether associations exist between clinical features and presence of dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 118 patients with a diagnosis of PTTD were seen between January 2009 and September 2012 and compared with 118 gender-matched and race-matched volunteers. The frequency of LLD, the mean absolute LLD, and the mean relative LLD were measured by conventional (radiographic) or computed tomography scanography and compared between cases and controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of LLD and mean absolute and relative LLD values were significantly greater in the case group (94.9%, 5.64 mm and 7.36%, respectively) than in the control group (79.7%, 3.28 mm and 4.18%, respectively) (P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study demonstrate a relationship between LLD and PTTD. In light of the major biomechanical changes it induces, LLD may be a predisposing factor for development of PTTD.
authors: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors: Jose Antônio Veiga
authors: JA
authors: Sanhudo
authors: Joao Luiz Ellera
authors: JL
authors: Gomes
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007870:Leg Length Inequality / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D037081:Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis
keywords: inequality; leg length discrepancy; posterior tibial tendon; tendon dysfunction