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. 2021 Jan 16;9(2):357-371.
doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i2.357.

Limb length discrepancy after total knee arthroplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Sujit Kumar Tripathy  1 , Siddharth Satyakam Pradhan  2 , Paulson Varghese  2 , Prabhudev Prasad Purudappa  3 , Sandeep Velagada  2 , Tarun Goyal  4 , Bijnya Birajita Panda  5 , Jagadeesh Vanyambadi  6
Affiliations

Limb length discrepancy after total knee arthroplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Sujit Kumar Tripathy et al. World J Clin Cases. .

Abstract

Background: Limb length discrepancy (LLD) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been considered as one of the reasons for the unsatisfactory outcome. However, there is no consensus about the extent of LLD that can be considered as clinically relevant.

Aim: To evaluate the incidence of radiographic LLD and its impact on functional outcome following TKA.

Methods: All randomized-controlled trial and observational studies on LLD in TKA, published till 22nd June 2020, were systematically searched and reviewed. The primary outcome was "limb lengthening or LLD after TKA". The secondary outcomes included "assessment of LLD in varus/valgus deformity" and "impact of LLD on the functional outcome".

Results: Of 45 retrieved studies, qualitative and quantitative assessment of data was performed from eight studies and six studies, respectively. Five studies (n = 1551) reported the average limb lengthening of 5.98 mm. The LLD after TKA was ranging from 0.4 ± 10 mm to 15.3 ± 2.88 mm. The incidence of postoperative radiographic LLD was reported in 44% to 83.3% of patients. There was no difference in the preoperative and postoperative LLD (MD -1.23; 95%CI: -3.72, 1.27; P = 0.34). Pooled data of two studies (n = 219) revealed significant limb lengthening in valgus deformity than varus (MD -2.69; 95%CI: -5.11, 0.27; P = 0.03). The pooled data of three studies (n = 611) showed significantly worse functional outcome in patients with LLD of ≥ 10 mm compared to < 10 mm (standard MD 0.58; 95%CI: 0.06, 1.10; P = 0.03).

Conclusion: Limb lengthening after TKA is common, and it is significantly more in valgus than varus deformity. Significant LLD (≥ 10 mm) is associated with suboptimal functional outcome.

Keywords: Arthroplasty; Joint diseases; Knee; Limb length; Replacement; Surgery.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict-of-interest statement: On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA Flow Diagram showing methods of study recruitment.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Preoperative and postoperative scanogram showing limb length variations in a 63-year-old male patient. Preoperative hip—knee—ankle angle (HKA) angle Rt, Lt: 166o, 169o, limb length Rt, Lt: 81.8 cms, 82.5 cms; postoperative HKA angle Rt, Lt: 175o, 178o, limb length Rt, Lt: 84.3 cms, 85 cms.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Forest plot showing limb length discrepancy in the preoperative period and postoperative period. LLD: Limb length discrepancy.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Forest plot showing limb lengthening/limb length discrepancy in varus deformity, valgus deformity and unilateral/ bilateral total knee arthroplasty. TKA: Total knee arthroplasty; LLD: Limb length discrepancy.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Forest plot showing functional outcome in patients with limb length discrepancy < 10 mm vs ≥ 10 mm.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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