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Short leg syndrome, scientifically called lower limb dysmetria, is a situation in which one leg is shorter than the other and the difference between them can vary from less than 1 cm to several centimeters. The greater the difference between the length of the two legs, the greater the person's discomfort, as it ends up making it very difficult to get around.
The short leg can be classified as either true or false. The true short leg occurs when the leg bones are actually shorter, whereas the false short leg occurs when the length of the leg bones is the same, but there is a gap in the hip.
It is possible to cure the short leg, leaving both of the same size, but the treatments vary according to their cause and, therefore, each case must be discussed personally with the orthopedist.
How to confirm that a leg is shorter
It is generally easier to identify that one leg is shorter than the other when the difference is greater than 2 cm, since the whole body is out of alignment. When the difference is less than 2 cm, the easiest way is to lay the person on their back and then ask them to bend their knees. If one knee is higher than the other, it is possible that the person has a shorter leg than the other.
Another way to confirm the length of the legs is by measuring with a tape measure or observing the level of the hip when placing the person on wooden platforms that measure 1 to 5 cm in height.
Still, to confirm the diagnosis it is very important to do X-ray exams, which will also help to identify the cause and better adapt the treatment.
How the treatment is done
The sooner short leg syndrome is discovered and the sooner treatment is started, the greater the chances of a cure, especially if treatment is started in childhood.
When the difference between the length of the legs is equal to or less than 0.5 cm, there is generally no need for treatment, and it is common that most people have this difference in adulthood. However, when the difference is greater, treatment can be done with:
- Physiotherapy sessions to release the fascia, stretch shortened muscles, correct scoliosis, and decrease pain and muscle weakness, for example;
- Use of an insole that is placed under the heel of the shortest leg to equal the height of both legs. This insole should be placed inside the shoes when the shortening is up to 2 cm, but in greater height differences, shoes made to measure can be used;
- Osteopathy and RPG sessions that are very effective in aligning the whole body and can cure the false short leg;
- Surgery to correct the short leg, being especially indicated in the case of a true short leg larger than 2 cm. The doctor may suggest yet another surgery called epiphysiodesis, which consists of stopping the growth of a healthy leg.
The orthopedist can indicate what the difference in height between the legs will be in adult life, even when evaluating children, using a calculation that indicates what will be the difference in height in the future. Knowing this value is important because whenever the person is more than 5 cm apart, surgery is indicated.
Possible complications
Having one leg shorter than the other can lead to some health complications:
- Difficulty walking;
- Knee changes, which can be turned inward or outward;
- Appearance of small fractures, called stress fractures;
- Scoliosis development, since the spine adopts a wrong position;
- Development of arthritis or osteoarthritis in the joints;
- Pains in the back, shoulders and neck.
All these complications can be related to each other, because as one of the legs is shorter, the body will have to adopt incorrect compensatory postures, which over time can cause pain and inflammation.