Rheumatic disease aspects of leg length inequality

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Abstract

Inequality of leg lengths is associated with low back pain, greater trochanteric bursitis, and degenerative hip disease. The pelvic obliquity that results from a discrepancy of leg lengths may contribute to degenerative changes in the lumbar spine. The diagnosis of leg length inequality may be overlooked. If this occurs, extensive and costly investigations are then often ordered to evaluate these secondary manifestations of leg length inequality. This is unfortunate because a simple shoe lift is all that was needed to provide symptomatic relief for selected patients.

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  • Cited by (0)

    Supported by the Veterans Administration and the University of Wisconsin at Madison Department of Medicine.

    1

    From the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Administration Hospital and the Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin at Madison.

    2

    Dr Rothenberg's current address is N Eoucom, Department of Medicine, Southside Hospital, Youngstown, OH.

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