Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2013, Vol. 17 ›› Issue (9): 1527-1534.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2013.09.002

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Digital templating alleviates leg length discrepancy after total hip arthroplasty

Zhang Xue-jun, Wang Chen   

  1. Department of Orthopedics, Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
  • Received:2012-11-15 Revised:2012-12-26 Online:2013-02-26 Published:2013-02-26
  • Contact: Wang Chen, Professor, Chief physician, Department of Orthopedics, Zhongda Hospital Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China wangchen@medmail.com.cn
  • About author:Zhang Xue-jun★, Master, Physician, Department of Orthopedics, Zhongda Hospital Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China zxjseu@163.com

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Digital templating before replacement is a very important step in pre-operative planning of total hip arthroplasty. Accurate pre-operative templating can help orthopedists to select the most appropriate prosthesis and control the lower limb length during replacement. Consequently, patients can get satisfactory lower limb length and offset. The incidence of complications after operation will be decreased.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of pre-operative digital templating on leg length discrepancy after total hip arthroplasty.
METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis in 334 patients who received total hip arthroplasty from October 2004 to May 2012 in the Department of Orthopedics, Zhongda Hospital Southeast University. Patients were divided into two groups according to the willingness of digital templating: control group (n=124) and measurement group (n=210). The patients in the control group did not receive digital templating. Patients in the measurement group received digital templating on the anteroposterior pelvic with the NEUSOFT PACS/RIS3.0 imaging system. The incidence of leg length discrepancy after replacement was compared between two groups.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The absolute value of leg length discrepancy of the patients in the measurement group was less than that in the control group (Z=-3.638, P < 0.01), indicating that the severity of leg length discrepancy in the measurement group was lower than that in the control group, more inclining to lower limb equal length. The absolute value of leg length discrepancy > 10 mm was considered as the diagnostic standard. The incidence rate of leg length discrepancy of the patients in the measurement group was lower than that in the control group (X2=7.17, P=0.007 < 0.05). The results indicate that digital templating can reduce the incidence of leg length discrepancy after total hip arthroplasty.

Key words: bone and joint implants, artificial prosthesis, total hip arthroplasty, leg length discrepancy, digital measurement, pre-replacement planning, templating, artificial joints, digitized orthopedics, implants, photographs-containing paper of bone and joint implants

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