[Problem and tolerance of leg lengthening after total hip replacement]

Inevitable sequaelae of predominant number of hip arthritis is shortening of the upper end of the femur due to the destruction of the femoral cartilage and head which is usually accompanied by increasing flexion contracture. The main goal of hip replacement is to restore normal hip biomechanics and appropriate femoral neck lever. As the number of hip arthroplasties increases the patients dissatisfied with the early postoperative result related to the apparent lengthening of the operated limb are becoming more numerous. The authors retrospectively analyzed group of 10 patients complaining of postoperative lengthening limb derived from series of 210 hip replacements. In this group a rehabilitation programme comprising of repeated maneuvers of manipulation aiming at reduction of abduction contracture and obtaining adduction was performed. After a period of one week to six months in all the cases the perception of leg length discrepancy disappeared.