Appearance of False Leg Length Discrepancy Based on the Side Patients Use to Get on the Examination Table and its Correlation With Their Height.

Abstract

There is lack of studies to investigate if the side that a patient uses to lie on the examination table induces functional leg length discrepancy (LLD). We aimed to explore this possible correlation, along with the influence of the patient's height and sex. Eighty participants, 40 men and 40 women, aged 18 to 50 years with no pre-existing LLD, also known as anisomelia, were included. The difference between leg lengths was assessed in the supine position by measuring the distance from the umbilicus to the medial malleolus when the participants used the right or left side of the table to lie on it. After the technique known as the Weber-Barstow maneuver was performed, leg lengths were found to be equal. Nine participants who still exhibited a length discrepancy even after the corrective maneuver were excluded from the study, as they had true LLD. There was a significant relationship between the side of the examination table used by the participants and functional LLD. The participants who used the right side of the table to lie on it had a longer left leg, and vice versa. It was observed that taller participants exhibited a significantly greater functional LLD, whereas this difference was not significantly affected by sex. The side the patient uses to lie on the examination table may create functional LLD, which can be corrected with the Weber-Barstow maneuver. This discrepancy is related to the patient's height but not their sex.