Abstract
Length discrepancy of a bone is considered a deformity when there is a difference in length between the two limbs or when there is a deviation from the normal expected length of a bone for a certain age. The latter is associated with short stature and disproportion of one bone to another or of the limbs to the spine. Length discrepancy is defined by two parameters: magnitude and direction. Magnitude refers to the difference in length between one side and the other. Leg length is either increased or decreased in one limb relative to the other. When there is an opposite normal limb segment for comparison, the measurement is made between the length of the normal side and the length of the affected side. When both limbs are affected (e.g. rhizomelic or mesomelic short stature), the comparison is made with the normal length in the population for that age and the proportion of the femur to the tibia (from published tables and growth charts [Anderson et al. 1964; Aldegheri and Agostini 1993]).
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Paley, D. (2002). Length Considerations: Gradual Versus Acute Correction of Deformities. In: Principles of Deformity Correction. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-59373-4_10
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-59373-4_10
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
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