Decision Report 202300379

Summary

The complainant (C) had a right top hip replacement. Some years later, C began to experience back pain and left ankle pain for which they attended physiotherapists and podiatrists. C told us that two years after their hip replacement, a podiatrist identified that C had a leg length discrepancy. C complained that they now have a leg length discrepancy of approximately 17 mm which they considered to be unacceptable.

The board said that leg length discrepancy is a recognised risk following hip replacement surgery. This was confirmed on a form signed by C prior to the procedure.

We took independent advice from a consultant orthopaedic surgeon. We found that the risk of leg length discrepancy was reasonably discussed before the procedure and that the true discrepancy was 5mm which was reasonable. We noted that the operation was carried out to a reasonable standard.

As such, we found that the care and treatment provided by the board was reasonable and we did not uphold the complaint.