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Children's health

Leg length discrepancy

6 replies

Again · 29/05/2009 22:40

I guess this is what my ds has. I've just been googling it.

The paediatrician said that our ds, who's nearly two has one leg 1.5 cms shorter than the other. He had an x-ray a couple of days later, and seemingly nothing showed up. Given the difference in the legs though, the paed says that he'd like him seen by an orthopaedic paediatrician.

Can anyone help me out with what to do next? We haven't been seen by the orthopaedic paed yet, still waiting for an appointment, but I'm really worried. Especially as my sister-in-law today said that if they don't catch hip dysplasia by 6 months they have to do surgery. As nothing showed up on the x-ray, does this mean that he doesn't have it? And if it's not hip dysplasia, what is it? Now my googling brought up something to do with kidney tumors.

1.5 cms in a 2 year old seems like a lot.

I could kick myself, because even though I kept telling doctors etc that I thought there was something going on with his hip/foot/leg, I didn't really pursue it fully until recently.

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HecatesTwopenceworth · 29/05/2009 22:51

Sorry can't advise on the condition itself, but just wanted to say - don't beat yourself up, you kept bringing it to their attention and now something is going to be done.

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2shoes · 29/05/2009 23:00

don't know if this helps...but my DN had one leg shorter than the other, he had an op about 2 years ago(so he was 14) and is now fine. and tbh he looked totally normal.
so don't get too panicked(and don't google)

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Again · 29/05/2009 23:11

Hard not to google 2shoes, though I know you're right!

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Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 30/05/2009 09:15

Again - hi. My daughter has/had an LLD. Her's was caused by a clot occluding her femoral artery when she was small. She has heart problems and was very sick at the time - the clot was basically caused by low cardiac output.

Some children do just have a discrepancy - most orthos will say that they wouldn't do anything about a 1.5 cm diff in an adult. Of course 1.5 is quite a proportion of a 2 year old's height so it does make them seem a bit wobbly and can actually affect balance, walking and correct growth of the spine so it's best to have it checked out.

I don't know much about hip dysplasia but would assume it would show on an x-ray. The ortho may want to do his own though. They are other conditions which may have LLD as a part of them but don't step back from google because you'll only scare yourself.

In the main the ortho will look as to whether the LLD is static or increasing which usually means x-rays or CT over time. They may also recommend a lift be put into the child's shoe to help with balance and to prevent hip/spine problems. Maybe physio too if the muscle is not as strong as it should be.

Sorry - long post there.

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Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 30/05/2009 09:24

Oh lord I mean't don't google not do google!!

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Again · 31/05/2009 22:05

Hope your daughter is doing ok saggar.

It makes sense that they would want to track any changes over time I guess. The x-ray that was taken last time was with his legs squashed up so that they could see his hips, so that's not going to be any use for the actual length as such.

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