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Leg Length Discrepancy (LLD)


Leg Length Discrepancy (LLD) refers to a difference in length between two limbs (upper or lower). If significant Leg Length Discrepancy (LLD)occurs in children (greater than 1 cm), it’s best to contact a center with specific experience in this area, such as OrthoChildren Center.
We use modern and excellent surgical techniques to intervene on the pathology “Leg Length Discrepancy (LLD)

Sheet Leg Length Discrepancy (LLD)

Leg Length Discrepancy (LLD): When should you see a specialist?

Small discrepancies or Leg Length Discrepancy (LLD) (less than 1 cm) can be considered physiological and generally do not require special attention or measures.

In case of significant dysmetria or heterometria in children (greater than 1 cm), it is advisable to contact centers with specific experience in the subject, such as OrthoChildren Center.

Leg Length Discrepancy (LLD): causes

Leg Length Discrepancy (LLD)can be due to various causes:

  • There are congenital forms due to hypoplasia/deficiency, macrosomia, hemihypertrophy, etc.
  • developmental forms : enchondromatosis, melorhesostosis, exostosis, neurofibromatosis with gigantism, vascular anomalies
  • acquired forms : post-trauma, infections, Perthes disease, etc.

Leg Length Discrepancy (LLD): how do they evolve?

It is important to distinguish between:

  • predictable forms
  • unpredictable forms

It is the task of the expert pediatric orthopedic surgeon to distinguish the type and make a prediction of the behavior of the discrepancy.

Leg Length Discrepancy (LLD): hypermetria or hypometria?

This distinction is essential to understand where the pathology is located, in the longer or shorter leg, and to direct investigations and measures from there.

Leg Length Discrepancy (LLD): treatment

OrthoChildren Center is a referral center for all types of treatment for length differences between upper and lower limbs.

We refer to the specific sheet

Examples of patients treated in our Center for minor LLD (lift: 2-3 cm) secondary to Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, vascular malformations, syndromic conditions
Examples of patients treated in our Center for minor LLD (lift: 2-3 cm) secondary to Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, vascular malformations, syndromic conditions

 

Techniques for pathology Leg Length Discrepancy (LLD)

Treatment of limb length discrepancy

Complex deformity Correction and Limb lengthening

Valgus knee and limb length discrepancy: correction and lengthening with external fixator