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India | Orthopedic | Volume 14 Issue 11, November 2025 | Pages: 1793 - 1797
A Comparative Analysis of Clinical Versus Radiological Methods for Assessing Limb Length Discrepancy Following Unilateral Total Hip Arthroplasty
Abstract: Background: Limb Length Discrepancy (LLD) is a common complication following Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA), linked to dissatisfaction, abnormal gait, and prothesis-related issues. Accurate assessment is crucial, yet there is still debate over the optimal method. This study aims to compare the reliability of clinical and radiological methods for measuring LLD in patients undergoing unilateral THA. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 30 patients undergoing primary unilateral THA. Preoperative and postoperative LLD was measured using two methods: (1) Clinical (Absolute) Method: measuring the distance from the Anterior Superior Iliac Spine (ASIS) to the medial malleolus; (2) Radiological (Trochanteric) Method: measuring the vertical distance from the interteardrop line to the lesser trochanter on anteroposterior pelvic radiographs. The measurements were compared using paired t-tests, Pearson?s correlation, and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). Results: The mean age of participants was 48.3 years, with a male preponderance (56.7%). Preoperatively, a significant statistical difference was found between the mean LLD measured clinically (1.35 cm) and radiologically (1.26 cm) (p=0.655). The correlation was weak (r=0.724, ICC=0.722). Postoperatively, the mean clinical LLD was 1.12 cm and radiological was 0.82 cm, with no significant statistical difference (p>0.05). The postoperative correlation improved but remained moderate (r=0.325, ICC=0.315). Conclusion: The radiological (trochanteric) method is a more accurate and reliable tool for assessing LLD in THA patients, particularly preoperatively. While the clinical method shows improved correlation postoperatively, it should be used with caution. We recommend the radiological method as the gold standard for precise LLD evaluation in both pre-operative planning and post-operative assessment.
Keywords: Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip, Leg Length Inequality, Radiography, Orthopedic Procedures, Intraoperative Complications, Postoperative Complications
How to Cite?: Dr. Aakash Tomar, Dr. Shashikant Prakash, Dr. Irfan Andleeb Gul, Dr. Lokendra Singh, Dr. Saket Bandil, Dr. Junaid Nagori, Dr. Sameer Ahmed Ansari, Dr. Kamal Ji Pandit, "A Comparative Analysis of Clinical Versus Radiological Methods for Assessing Limb Length Discrepancy Following Unilateral Total Hip Arthroplasty", Volume 14 Issue 11, November 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1793-1797, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR251124194139, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR251124194139