Orthopedics Forum - One short leg and its effects on the body

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Q: One short leg and its effects on the body

asked by: DoctorQuestion on May 7th, 2009

My daughter came home from a pool party about 3 years ago...someone had hit their head against her lower thigh..there was no bruising..with little swelling. Since then, her leg noticably has a small bump just above her knee...very hard. Not discolored, nor painful.

She is a pre-teen, and her school sent home a letter informing me her scoliosis screen came back suggesting I have her checked. Her spine is straight, but her shoulder blades are uneven...she typically carries a very heavy tote on one shoulder...for years...so I thought maybe it could be that....my research recently has led me to maybe think she had some type of injury to her femur...which did not heal correctly, and now her growth may have been impared.

Has anyone had anything remotely similar? - by default, I am not one to run to a doctor. When she first sustained the injury, she never really complaned of it hurting...it seemed fine to me. Now I am worried...please help.

Replies(1)

Dr. Antonio Marotta , D.C.

replied on May 21st, 2009

Orthopedics Answer A6623

It is possible that a short femur (when compared to the other one) can cause what is called a "reactive" scoliosis. The short leg causes the pelvis to become un-level. This in turn causes the spine to react by bending away from the short leg. Then the shoulders get off balance by bending toward the short leg. The head must compensate to keep the eyes level and bends away from the short leg. This is all in an effort to keep the eyes straight and body balanced.

That is if your child has a "short" leg. A backpack could also cause muscular imbalance. There are different postural and orthopedic tests that can be performed to rule in or out a shorter leg, functional vs. structural scoliosis, or muscular imbalance. It is suggested to consult with a chiropractic physician to evaluate the cause of the problem. Good luck.

Antonio Marotta, D.C.

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