LIMB LENGTH RESTORATION FOLLOWING TOTAL HIP ARTHROPLASTY – USING THE TRANSVERSE ACETABULAR LIGAMENT AND A CALIPER TO CONTROL THE HEIGHT OF THE ACETABULAR AND FEMORAL COMPONENTS RESPECTIVELY.

Abstract

Current methods for restoring or preserving limb length following total hip arthroplasty are anatomically inaccurate, as they do not consider acetabular and femoral height independently. In order to address this, we present and evaluate a technique that uses the transverse acetabular ligament to control the vertical height of the acetabular component and a caliper that controls the vertical placement of the femoral component within the femoral canal. Limb lengths were measured in 200 patients who had undergone primary total hip arthroplasty using this technique. Using this method, 94% had a post-operative limb length inequality that was 6 mm or less when compared to the normal side (average +0.38 mm). The maximum measured limb length inequality was ± 8 mm.