Pasadena, CA - Hip replacement surgery often causes leg length problems, notes Cesar Lua of Novis Shoes, a shoe lift manufacturer. And this discrepancy must often be addressed by shoe lifts or other orthotic footwear.
Hip replacement surgery is usually necessitated by osteoarthritis in the hip joint, or a hip fracture. It is used when pain and loss of function become severe. Total hip replacement surgery replaces the existing joint by attaching an artificial hip joint to the existing bone. he end of the femur is capped with a metal ball and the hip socket is resurfaced with a metal shell and plastic liner.
Depending on the surgical technique used, you may be able to put weight on the hip right away, but you will probably need a walker, crutches or cane to get around at first. You will spend a couple of days to a week in the hospital. It's essential to start physical therapy right away to avoid problems caused by scar tissue in the joint and to prevent the loss of strength in the joint and leg. A physical therapist will work with you to get you used to your new joint. Sometimes certain activities - such as bending at the waist or crossing your legs - may be restricted in the first weeks. Depending on the patient’s overall health and condition of his or her bones, complete recovery can take anywhere from six months to a year.
"Unfortunately, it is not unusual for patients to experience a leg length discrepancy following hip replacement surgery - even if the legs were the same length before the procedure," says Lua, a certified pedorthist whose orthopedic shoe company specializes in adding a shoe lift or arch supports for shoes. The most common problem is that the leg which was operated on is longer - although occasionally it is shorter. For patients after hip replacement surgery, 72 percent experience a lengthening of at least 10 millimeters, while 22 percent experience more than 10 millimeters. A difference of 1.5 centimeters or more can cause a range of problems including lower back, knee and hip pain. The leg length discrepancy is caused when doctors use an overly large prosthetic hip.
The easiest and most effective way to treat this leg length discrepancy is with a shoe lift or shoe insole that adds height to the shorter leg. Patients who are looking for lifts can mail their shoes to us free of charge. We will return the shoe with its new lift three days after we receive it. "Our patients are happy there's such an easy way to address their pain," explains Lua, whose company also provides elevator shoes. "They start using the lift and soon they feel a lot better when they walk and stand. We offer outstanding customer service - that's why our customers return to us again and again."
© 2011 Novis Shoes and Master Google. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Novis Shoes and Master Google (which provides free Google SEO tool). Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.