LEG LENGTH CONTROL DURING TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT: THE EFFECT OF A NAVIGATION MEASUREMENT

IntroductionLeg length discrepancy is a significant concern after total hip replacement (THR). We hypothesised that the intra-operative use of a navigation system was able to accurately control the leg length during THR.Material50 cases have been prospectively analysed. There were 29 men and 21 women, with a mean age of 66.1 years (range, 50 to 80 years), all operated on for THR for end-stage hip osteoarthritis.MethodsAll procedures were performed with a non-image based navigation system. The expected correction of the leg length was defined prior to the procedure. The leg length was recorded before any bone resection by the 3D-distance between the pelvic and the femoral navigation trackers when placing the operated leg in a position near the anatomic one. The THR was performed according to the indication of the navigation system. The vertical positioning of the femoral component and the length of the prosthetic neck were defined to achieve the expected planning; however a correction was allowed to compen...