Evaluation of intraoperative limb length measurement by cautery lead to reduce limb length discrepancies in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty

Abstract

Abstract Background: Limb length discrepancy (LLD) is one of the important causes of poor functional outcomes after total hip arthroplasty and may result in back pain, neuritis, dislocation of hip, early loosening of components, and abnormal gait. The incidence of LLD after hip replacement ranges from 1% to 27%. Many sophisticated methods have been tried by researchers but still, there is no single method that can reduce the LLD to absolute zero. Hence, our study used an easy and effective intraoperative method of measuring limb length by using cautery lead, which reduces LLD significantly. Objective: To evaluate and compare the intra-operative limb length measurement by cautery lead with pre-operative and post-operative limb length by clinical and radiological method. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study, which was conducted on 35 patients from 2020 to 2022. Patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty for various indications are included in the study. Intraoperatively limb length measurement was done with the help of cautery lead. Any correction needed as calculated earlier by preoperative measurement by clinical and radiological methods were taken care of during surgery and compared postoperatively. Results: In our study, we found that the mean preoperative LLD was −12.8 mm (range, −35 to 0 mm), which reduces to mean postoperative LLD of −1 mm (range, −10 to 14 mm) with a P value of less than 0.0001, which shows that LLD reduces after the procedure, and it was statistically significant. Conclusion: This method significantly reduces LLD after total hip arthroplasty, and it is unique because this intraoperative technique is simple, easy, inexpensive, effective, and quick to perform.