Leg length change in total hip arthroplasty with subtrochanteric femoral shortening osteotomy for Crowe type IV developmental hip dysplasia.

Primary total hip arthroplasties were performed in 70 hips for the treatment of Crowe type IV developmental dysplasia of the hip. The patients were subdivided into 2 groups with or without iliofemoral osteoarthritis. Leg length change was measured radiographically. Preoperative hip motion was reviewed from medical records and defined as either higher or lower motion groups. The leg length change in patients without iliofemoral osteoarthritis was significantly greater than that in patients with iliofemoral osteoarthritis, and the higher hip motion group had greater leg length change in total hip arthroplasty than the lower motion group. The current study identifies several features that might help predict leg length change during the preoperative planning of total hip arthroplasty for Crowe type IV developmental hip dysplasia.