The effect of leg inequality on pelvic and hip kinematics in children

ISRCTN ISRCTN15099486
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN15099486
IRAS number 237648
Secondary identifying numbers IRAS project ID: 237648
Submission date
25/01/2018
Registration date
01/02/2018
Last edited
30/01/2018
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Musculoskeletal Diseases
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Unequal leg length affects between 40% and 70% of the population and is classified into two 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 it is invasive and comes with associated risks. There is a gap in the current knowledge and only two studies were found which investigated the effect of unequal leg length on walking in children, and both identified that walking was altered but did not specify how. Modern medicine should be evidence based, therefore this study aims to provide information to inform surgeons on the impact of leg length inequality on children, which may help inform surgical decision making.

Who can participate?
Children aged 7 to 16 who have undergone 3D gait analysis as part of their routine clinical care

What does the study involve?
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 is used for the study, requiring no further attendance by the children.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The study will add to the limited knowledge base by providing data on gait compensations in children with leg length discrepancy. This in turn may inform appropriate surgical management in the future. There are no risks to the participants as their data is collected as part of routine clinical care. Written parental consent is provided at the time of assessment.

Where is the study run from?
North West Movement Analysis Centre (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
February 2018 to May 2018

Who is funding the study?
Investigator initiated and funded

Who is the main contact?
Mr Paul McGrath
paul.mcgrath@alderhey.nhs.uk

Contact information

Mr Paul McGrath
Public

North West Movement Analysis Centre
Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust
Eaton Road
Liverpool
L12 2AP
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)151 252 5949
Email paul.mcgrath@alderhey.nhs.uk

Study information

Study designRetrospective case control study
Primary study designObservational
Secondary study designCase-control study
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeOther
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleWhat is the effect of an idiopathic leg length discrepancy on coronal plane pelvis and hip kinematics in children during walking?
Study objectivesThe study hypothesis is that there will be a change in pelvic and hip coronal plane gait kinematics in children with a leg length discrepancy compared to normal gait kinematics. The change that occurs will be increased pelvic obliquity and associated increased hip adduction on the longer side.
Ethics approval(s)Ethics Board London-Bromley, 12/01/2018, REC ref: 18/LO/0093
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedIdiopathic leg length discrepancy
InterventionThis retrospective case control study will analyse coronal plane pelvic and hip kinematic data during normal walking in children with a leg length discrepancy (>2cm defined radiologically). Prior to 3D data capture all patients undergo a full lower limb physical exam comprising of leg length measurement, range of movement measurement using goniometry and muscle strength testing. 3D gait data is collected as part of routine clinical care using a 12 camera 340Hz 3D gait analysis system and BTS Smart Capture software (BTS Bioengineering, Milan). 22 reflective markers are placed on patients in line with the conventional gait model Davis heel protocol. Subjects walk at a self-selected speed across a 10 metre walk way and a minimum of 6 walking trials are collected. For data analysis, data from 5 trials are selected for processing using BTS Smart Analyser software; 1 gait cycle per left and right leg is manually defined. Data from the 5 trials are then averaged generating single kinematic graphs for the left and right legs. Coronal plane pelvic and hip kinematic data from each subject that has been converted to text files will be added to a database containing the data of all participants. Data is anonymised and participants will be given unique identifiers prior to input into the database. Mean pelvic and hip kinematics for the participant sample will be generated and compared to the NWMAC normal database. Correlation between leg length discrepancy and gait abnormality at the pelvis and hip will be investigated.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measureCoronal plane joint range of motion at the pelvis and hip, measured in degrees using a 3D gait analysis system. The measurements are obtained once at the patients attendance at the North West Movement Analysis Centre, Alder Hey as part of their routine clinical care.
Secondary outcome measuresThe amount of leg length discrepancy as a percentage of total height (leg length is measured using a tape measure and recorded in centimetres) at the time of attendance at NWMAC
Overall study start date05/02/2018
Completion date25/05/2018

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupChild
Lower age limit7 Years
Upper age limit16 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participantsA minimum of 10 participants
Key inclusion criteria1. Aged between 7 to 16 years
2. Undergone 3D gait analysis as part of their routine clinical care
3. Written parental consent for their data to be used for research purposes
4. No previous orthopaedic surgery
Key exclusion criteria1. Neurological disorder
2. Hip pathology
3. Hip muscle contractures
4. Hip pain
5. Fixed scoliosis
6. Spinal pathology
Date of first enrolment05/02/2018
Date of final enrolment16/02/2018

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

North West Movement Analysis Centre
Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust
Eaton Road
Liverpool
L12 2AP
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

University of Salford
University/education

School of Health Sciences
Brian Blatchford Building
Manchester
M6 6PU
England
United Kingdom

ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/01tmqtf75

Funders

Funder type

Other

Investigator initiated and funded

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date25/05/2019
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planStudy protocol and statistical analysis will be available on completion of the study (May 2018). The plan is for the study to be published in the Gait and Posture journal around one year after the overall trial end date/project completion. The study will also be freely available to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy who may wish to publish the study in their Physiotherapy Journal, as well as the Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists Journal.
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from Paul McGrath (paul.mcgrath@alderhey.nhs.uk).

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
HRA research summary 28/06/2023 No No