What causes a leg length discrepancy?
The causes of a leg length discrepancy, even the most common ones, are numerous and varied. A discrepancy can result from an injury, such as in a fracture that damages the cells responsible for growth of the bone, while the corresponding bone on the other leg grows normally. Some fractures can also lead to overgrowth of bone during the healing process, resulting in a longer than normal bone. Overgrowth commonly occurs in young children with femoral fractures. Diseases of the bone, such as osteomyelitis, can injure a region in a bone, called the growth plate, where growth in length occurs, so that a discrepancy occurs gradually over time. Some children are born with legs that are of unequal length or bowed tibias that are accompanied with a leg length discrepancy. Functional leg length discrepancy can also result from congenital (present at birth) problems, which alter alignment of the hips, such as coxa vara and developmental dislocation of the hip. Neuromuscular problems, such as cere
