Patient Perception of Leg Length Discrepancy and Satisfaction Following Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Abstract

Leg-length discrepancy (LLD) is a common complication following total hip arthroplasty (THA), which might affect patient function and satisfaction. It is unclear how a patient's perception of LLD changes over time. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the incidence, affecting factors, and lapse of perceived LLD after primary THA. This was a prospective, single-center, cohort study of primary THAs performed on 126 patients from 2019 to 2021 by a single surgeon via a postero-lateral approach. Pre-, intra-, and postoperative variables, including demographic data and LLD, were assessed. Patients were grouped according to the presence of perceived LLD, and the satisfaction questionnaire was used for the evaluation at six weeks, three months, six months, and one year postoperatively. There was no statistical difference in the pre-, intra-, and postoperative variables assessed in both groups. Of the 126 patients, 62 (49%) had perceived postoperative LLD, and the remainder were asymptomatic. After one year, 73% (45 of 62) of symptomatic patients reported complete resolution of symptoms, and 15 of 17 symptomatic patients who had persistent perceived LLD reported favorable patient satisfaction scores even without surgical intervention. The majority of patients (73%) who had a perception of LLD following THA observed their symptoms resolve in the first year after surgery. Furthermore, the majority of patients who have persistent perceived LLD after one year of THA have good patient satisfaction. This information may reassure both the orthopaedic surgeon and the patient about the expected course of postoperative LLD perception.