Leg Length Discrepency

The disease is caused when a reduced blood supply to the head of femur (the ball shaped top of the thigh bone) causes it to soften and become flattened or misshaped. It occurs in childhood as the bones are developing.

The Iliotibial band (ITB) is a band of connective tissue which runs along the outside of the leg from the Iliac Crest (hip bone) to the tibia (shin bone). As the knee bends and straightens, the ITB rubs past the lateral femoral epicondyle which is a bony prominence on the outside of the femur (thigh bone) immediately above the knee joint. Due to this action the ITB is prone to friction which, if excessive, leads to inflammation. The condition is particularly common in runners.

May be either Congenital or traumatic (caused by a sudden physical injury from an external factor). For further information on Congenital Dislocation of the Hip click here. Common causes of traumatic dislocation are falls, road traffic accidents or can be associated with hip replacements where a diseased hip joint is replaced with an artificial joint known as a Prosthesis. The hip dislocation may be associated with a fractured femur. A posterior (backward) displacement is the most common type accounting for approximately 90% of this type of injury.