How Is Leg Length Discrepancy Diagnosed?
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To diagnose a limb length discrepancy , orthopedic specialists (doctors and other health care providers who treat bone and muscle problems): talk to the family and the child (if they're old enough to understand) do a physical exam measure both legs watch how the child walks take X-rays How Is Leg Length Discrepancy Treated? Treating a slight difference in leg length can mean lengthening the shorter leg or shortening the longer leg. A shoe lift can even out small differences, and might be all that some kids need. But if the difference in leg length is more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) or gets worse as the child grows, surgery can help. Kids may need more than one surgery as they grow. An option for kids who are still growing is epiphysiodesis (pronounced: ep-i-fiz-ee-uh-DEE-sis). In this relatively simple outpatient surgery, one or two of the growth plates (areas at the end of bones where new growth happens) in the longer leg are scraped or compressed with surgical plates and screws. The s...