MODULAR VS. NON-MODULAR: WHICH IS MORE EFFECTIVE IN RESTORING FEMORAL OFFSET AND LEG LENGTH?
MSA Couch; JL Carson; P Griffiths; M Barrett; and S Scott Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool Introduction: Modular prostheses were first developed for use in total hip arthroplasty (THA) in the 1980s as a potential solution to the problem of leg length inequality. There is much literature discussing the advantages and disadvantages of modularity in THA but there are few studies directly comparing modular and non-modular prostheses and their accuracy in restoring normal anatomy. Our aim was to assess whether modularity in THA improves the restoration of femoral offset and leg length. Methods: An analysis of post-operative radiographs of 76 patients who underwent THA – 38 using modular and 38 using non-modular prostheses was undertaken. The femoral offset and leg length of the operated and un-operated hip were measured for each patient. Inter-and intra-observer errors were reduced to a minimum. A two-tailed T test was then applied to the data. Results: Restoration of leg length (to w
