The effect of leg inequality on pelvic and hip kinematics in children
Research type
Research Study
Full title
What is the effect of an idiopathic leg length discrepancy on coronal plane pelvis and hip kinematics in children during walking?
IRAS ID
237648
Contact name
Gill Holmes
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Salford
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 30 days
Research summary
The research question is ‘What is the effect of having legs of different length on the movement of the pelvis and hip during walking in children’.
Unequal leg length affects between 40% and 70% of the population and is classified into 2 groups: a) anatomical discrepancy, when the inequality is caused by a difference in the length of the bones and can affect children from birth and b) functional discrepancy, when the inequality is caused by muscle tightness or weakness. It is thought that having legs of different lengths alters the way in which children walk and is thought to cause pain, lower back problems and arthritis in the future.
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital Orthopaedic department has a regional limb reconstruction service where children with leg length inequality undergo equalisation surgery. The aim of surgery is based on the assumed concept that inequality is detrimental to the child and may lead to problems in the future, but is invasive and comes with associated risks.
There is a gap in the current level of knowledge and only two papers were found (1) which investigated the effect of unequal leg length on walking in children, both identified that walking was altered but did not specify how. Modern medicine should be evidence based, therefore this study aims to provide information which will inform surgeons on the impact on children of leg length inequality which may help inform surgical decision making.
As part of their routine clinical care children are assessed in the North Movement Analysis Centre, Alder Hey using the 3D gait analysis system. At the time of assessment informed consent is taken allowing technical and clinical information to be used for research. It is this anonymised information which will be used for the study, requiring no further attendance by the children.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/0093
Date of REC Opinion
12 Jan 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion