Femoral Lengthening Might Impair Physical Function and Lead to Structural Changes in Adjacent Joints

Femoral Lengthening Might Impair Physical Function and Lead to Structural Changes in Adjacent Joints; 10 Patients With 27 to 34 Years Follow-up.

This study evaluates function, quality of life and development of hip- and knee osteoarthritis minimum 15 years after unilateral femoral lengthening on people with idiopathic or post-traumatic anisomelia.

This study has a cross-sectional design, where patients that completed femoral lengthening more than 15 years ago and fulfills the inclusion criteria's are invited to participate. Patients will undergo radiographic imaging to evaluate hip- and knee arthritis, axis deviaton and leg length discrepancy. To evaluate quality of life, function and pain, the participants will complete the forms EQ-5D-5L, Knee osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS) and International physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ). Bilateral active hip and knee range of motion will be measured with hand held goniometer, and the functional tests 30 seconds sit to stand, hop tests and stair test will be conducted.

Leg Length Inequality, Leg; Lengthening, Osteoarthritis, Knee, Osteoarthritis of Hip, Quality of Life

Tests for lower extremity function Evaluating arthritis of hip and knee, leg length discrepancy and axis deviation radiographically Evaluating quality of life, function and pain by forms

Evaluating arthritis in knee and hip bilaterally. Evaluating axis deficiancy and leg length discrepancy.

EQ-5D-5L, KOOS - knee osteoarthritis outcome score, IPAQ - international physical activity questionnaire

participants report the extent of problems they have with endpoints 1-5, where 1 is no problems and 5 is not able to in the five dimensions mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. The questionnaire also contains a vertical analogue scale with the labelled endpoints 0-100 where 0 is the worst imaginable health state and 100 the best imaginable health state, giving a valuation of the participants own health state that can be used as a quantitative measure of health outcome based on the patients' own judgement

The participant answer questions regarding pain, function, stiffness and quality of life regarding knee pain. Endpoints 0 - 4, where 0 indicate no problems and 4 indicate extreme problems

Participants answer the amount of time being in vigorous activity, moderate activity, walking and sitting during the last 7 days. Answers are given in number of days in each of the activity categories, and time in hours and minutes on a regular day the actual week

Inclusion Criteria: Patients with idiopathic or post traumatic leg length discrepancy who are lengthened with the callutasis method minimum 15 years ago Exclusion Criteria: Patients that are lenghtened with innate pathology resulting in shortening of the limb, angle deviation and less musculature, for example congenital femoral deficiency or fibula hemimelia. Patients with acquired leg length discrepancy who have had infection in knee or hip joint

Bjorge PA, Tveter AT, Steen H, Gunderson R, Horn J. Femoral lengthening might impair physical function and lead to structural changes in adjacent joints: 10 patients with 27 to 34 years' follow-up. Acta Orthop. 2021 Jun;92(3):329-334. doi: 10.1080/17453674.2020.1866864. Epub 2021 Jan 7.