Patients may feel that their affected extremity is longer after hip replacement surgery. This feeling most commonly goes away after a few weeks. Patients who have a low BMI are especially prone to feel this limb length discrepancy. We use a variety of techniques for accurate planning of the surgery, which include numerous preoperative and intraoperatively techniques to ensure that the length of the extremity is the same as the other side.
However, occasionally patients may have “true” lengthening after hip replacement surgery that maybe permanent. If patients feel the leg is longer or shorter several weeks after the surgery, a “lift” in the other extremity under the shoe maybe used for balancing the gait.