We prospectively reviewed a consecutive series of 101 patients with mobile bearing total knee replacement (TKR) and 72 patients with the fixed bearing cruciate retaining TKR. Patients were assessed for diagnoses, range of motion, pre- and post-operative Oxford knee scores and complications. In the mobile bearing group of 113 knees in 101 patients, 97 had minimum 10-year follow up. By ten years, 16 patients had died of unrelated causes. Mean Revised Oxford Knee score improved from 16 pre-operatively to 42 at last follow up. The mean range of flexion was 115 degrees (75 – 130). One patient dislocated the bearing and needed manipulation. One patient reported superficial infection which resolved with antibiotics. One patient had deep vein thrombosis and one had non-fatal pulmonary embolism. In the fixed bearing group, 89 TKR's were performed in 72 patients. The mean age was 71.9 years and the mean follow up was 12.1 (10–14.1) years. 19 patients died during this study period. The mean range of flexion was 111.2 (80–135) degrees of flexion at latest follow- up. There was an improvement in the mean Oxford knee score from 16.2 preoperatively, to 42.5 to date. One patient required revision surgery at 12 years for polyethylene wear. One patient developed deep infection 10 years after the primary procedure but declined revision surgery. At ten years no revisions were performed in either group. This series has highlighted excellent results with both fixed and mobile bearing CR knees with hundred percent survival at ten years.

Severe deformity and bone loss in patients with degenerative changes of the knee present a challenging surgical dilemma to the knee surgeon. We present the outcome following complex primary total knee replacements at our unit over 12 years undertaken by a single surgeon.

Our aim was to highlight that there is a sub-group of patients with disabling symptoms after leg lengthening at primary hip replacement who benefit from revision surgery.

Most patients with an over lengthened limb after total hip arthroplasty are either asymptomatic or find it an inconvenience which can often be treated with a shoe raise. A minority, however, find this severely debilitating, patients describing that the leg “feels long”, with pain felt around the hip, difficulty sitting and limited function. It is this sub-group of patients that we feel benefit from revision surgery to equalise leg lengths.

We report on 8 cases (6 female; 2 male) that underwent revision surgery for leg lengthening over a 7 year period . The mean leg length difference was 14.3mm (range 10-20mm). Five patients had revision of the stem only and the remaining 3 both cup and stem. Time to revision varied from 8 months to 3 years. We outline our method of radiological measurement of leg length after total hip arthroplasty, using the centre of hip rotation as the reference point. Individual cases are discussed with radiographs highlighting the typical clinical features and this radiological technique.

All patients reported an immediate improvement in their symptoms following revision surgery and have remained pleased with the outcome at their latest follow up.

Leg lengthening as a result of total hip arthroplasty is well recognised but its treatment remains controversial. There is a sub-group of patients who are particularly sensitive to over lengthening, often of short stature. We reiterate that this revision surgery is beneficial to the patient with a lengthened leg ONLY if they have significant symptoms and limitation of function. Our small series emphasises the need to recognise this group of patients who can achieve a successful outcome after revision surgery.

Subjects

A prospective study of 127 patients who underwent posterior spinal arthrodesis and segmental spinal instrumentation with iliac crest bone graft for correction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Patients were divided according to their Cobb angle into two groups. Group 1 (n= 78) with a Cobb angle > 70° who underwent an additional concave rib osteotomy (CRO) and group 2 (n= 49) with a Cobb angle < 70° who did not (NCRO). All patients received a pulmonary rehabilitation programme post-operatively. Vital capacity (VC) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) were measured pre-operatively, at 3 months and 12 months post-operatively.

The management of leg-length inequality following total hip replacement remains controversial. Many leg length discrepancies are well tolerated and need no treatment. Some patients require only a heel raise, but some patients remain dissatisfied after their hip replacement surgery.

A recent report has suggested that leg-lengthening following total hip replacement does not correlate with patient satisfaction nor joint-specific or generic health scores[1]. This is not our experience. While many patients find leg lengthening an inconvenience, others have major disability following this complication. We report 4 patients who experienced unremitting pain and functional limitation following leg-lengthening as a result of primary hip arthroplasty.

All 4 patients underwent revision surgery which equalised leg length and resulted in immediate and complete resolution of their symptoms. We discuss the clinical findings, x-ray appearances and surgical technique employed to correct this problem. We have never had to revise a hip because of a shortened leg on the operated side.