Intramedullary bone lengthening following preceding hip surgery—a case series

Abstract

Limb length discrepancy (LLD) is a common problem after joint-preserving hip surgeries, hip dysplasia, and hip deformities. Limping, pain, sciatica, paresthesia, and hip instability are common clinical findings and may necessitate limb-lengthening procedures. The study included five patients (two female and three male, mean age of 28 years (20–49; SD: 12)) with symptomatic limb length discrepancy greater than 2.5 cm (mean: 3.6 cm) after total hip arthroplasty (THA), hip dysplasia, or post-traumatic hip surgery. They underwent either ipsi-or contralateral intramedullary limb-lengthening surgeries using the PRECICE™ telescopic nail. All patients achieved complete bone healing and correction of the pelvic obliquity after intramedullary lengthening. None of the patients had a loss of proximal or distal joint motion. The mean distraction-consolidation time (DCT) was 3.8 months, the distraction index (DI) 0.7 mm/day, the lengthening index (LI) 1.8 months/cm, the consolidation index (CI) 49.2 days/cm, the healing index (HI) 1.1 months/cm, and the modified healing index (HI*) 34 days/cm. Intramedullary limb lengthening after LLD in cases of hip dysplasia, hip deformity, and various kinds of hip surgery is a useful and safe procedure in young patients to achieve equal limb length. No functional impairment of the preceded hip surgery was seen.