How much leg length discrepancy is normal?

Most differences in leg length are normal. No one is perfectly symmetrical and a difference of up to 2 cm in adults is typical.

How much leg length discrepancy is too much?

A discrepancy of less than 4 cm is tolerable." It seems that 3½ cm is the critical amount of shortening in an adult." Correction of such a deformity is imperative, particularly when the discrepancy is over 1 inch or 2.5 cm in difference."

When Should leg length discrepancy be corrected?

Most cases of congenital limb length discrepancy can be treated with lengthening and reconstruction. In many cases, we prefer to start the lengthening and reconstruction surgery process before the patient reaches the age of 4 years, often as young as 2 years of age.

Is 1.5 cm leg length discrepancy?

It is generally recommended that if your leg length discrepancy is greater than 1.5 to 2.0 cm (5/8 inch) then it should be treated. The concern is that walking with your pelvis out of alignment can start to cause low back pain, hip pain, or knee pain over time.

What percentage of population has leg length discrepancy?

Leg length discrepancy (LLD) affects up to 90% of the general population with a mean discrepancy of 5.2 mm^21,22 that involves abnormal patterns of weight bearing in the joints of the lower extremities and the spine.

How to Measure and Fix a Leg Length Discrepancy

What is a significant difference in leg length?

Small differences in limb length are common. In fact, as many as a third of the population may have a 1 cm or less (less than ½ inch) discrepancy between their right and left legs. These slight differences are generally not noticeable and don't require treatment.

Can you fix leg length discrepancy?

If a child has stopped growing, orthopedists can sometimes correct a leg length discrepancy by shortening the longer leg. This is done by removing a piece of bone from the longer leg. Limb lengthening surgery also can be done.

How can I help my child with leg length discrepancy?

For children with a small discrepancy (less than 2 cm) a lift placed into the shoe can be an adequate treatment while some children with the same discrepancy may choose no treatment at all. For children with a predicted LLD of 2.5 cm or more a surgical operation is the best treatment for LLD.

Why does my baby have one leg longer than the other?

There are many different reasons to have a leg length discrepancy, but there are two main causes: 1) your child was born with a condition that caused one leg to grow slower than the other or 2) something happened during your child's lifetime that affected the length of the bone (i.e. a fracture) or affected the growth ...

How can I even out my leg length?

Bend your arms and put your hands into fists, and then hold them in a defensive position near your chest. Step 2: Lean your body weight onto your longer leg. While taking a deep breath in, bend and lift your shorter leg until it's at the same length as your hip. Keep your foot pointed straight ahead.

Which hip hurts with leg length discrepancy?

Unequal leg lengths cause the pelvis to move abnormally. This is evidenced by the waddling gait of someone with a hip problem. This waddling gait helps remove pressure on the painful hip. With leg-length discrepancy, either hip joint can cause pain, and usually both hip joints hurt to some degree.

Which side hurts with leg length discrepancy?

Those who suffer from functional leg length discrepancy are those who tend to suffer from lower back pain. The Academy of Clinical Massage shares that tight back muscles on the “short side” are often the cause of the leg length difference.

What is the most accurate way to determine a leg length discrepancy?

Palpation and visual estimation of the iliac crest (or ASIS) in combination with the use of blocks or book pages of known thickness under the shorter limb to adjust the level of the iliac crests (or ASIS) appears to be the best (most accurate and precise) clinical method to asses limb inequality.

How common is it to have one leg longer than the other?

Having one leg longer than the other is relatively common. The condition is known as leg length discrepancy. Some research indicates that 40–70% of people have some form of leg length discrepancy (LLD). The differences in leg length can range from a fraction of an inch to several inches.

What should I do if one leg is longer than the other?

What are the treatments for leg length discrepancy? Small leg length difference can be observed or treated with a shoe lift. Larger leg length differences may require surgery. Options for this include slowing down or stopping the growth of the longer leg or lengthening the shorter leg.

When do babies legs become straight?

“Babies are born with a bowlegged appearance, but by the time they're 18 months old, their legs become straight. Then as they grow, from age 18 months to three or four years old, most kids' legs have a knock-kneed appearance, and that's normal as well.”

Can LLD cause back pain?

» Long-standing LLD may result in degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, altered gait mechanics, and low back pain. » Patients with LLD, low back pain, and functional scoliosis should undergo radiographic evaluation with the pelvis leveled using blocks placed under the shorter limb.

How do you check if your legs are the same length?

How to Determine Differences in Leg Length. The only real way to assess a permanent, structural difference in leg length is through the use of an X-Ray or CT scan. This is because sometimes the appearance of uneven legs isn't due to an actual difference in leg length.

What is the ratio of leg length to height?

Did you see that the length of your femur bone goes about four times into your height? You can also say that if you divide your height in four equal pieces, you have the length of your femur bone, or the length of your femur bone is one fourth of your height. Mathematicians call this a one to four ratio.

What are the symptoms of one leg shorter than the other?

Does leg length discrepancy cause knee pain?

A Leg-length discrepancies are often a major factor in knee pain because your body will try to compensate for them. If one leg is longer you'll try to shorten it by flattening the foot, dropping the hip, or bending the knee excessively – all of which increases pressure on your knee.