He lived for years with one leg shorter than the other: How a surgery helped a 54-year-old man walk normally again

For years, 54-year-old Mr Suresh Kumar (name changed) from Odisha struggled with worsening hip pain and an increasingly noticeable limp. As his condition progressed, even routine activities became difficult. The difference in the length of his legs affected the way he walked and began to impact his daily lifeWhen he visited the hospitals, doctors found that his condition was far more complex than a routine case of arthritis. Severe osteoarthritis had not only damaged his left hip joint but had also led to a tilted pelvis and a misdirected hip socket. As a result, one leg had become significantly shorter than the other.While hip replacement is a common surgery, Mr Kumar’s case was far more complicated than usual."The patient's hip and pelvis were not in their normal position because of the damage caused by arthritis. His biggest concern was the difference in his leg lengths. To correct this and ensure the implant was placed accurately, the surgery required a very high level of precision," said Dr Rajesh Malhotra, Senior Consultant and Clinical Lead- North India, Orthopaedics, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Delhi.To overcome these challenges, the Dr Malhotra and his team decided to perform a robotic-assisted hip replacement. The robotic system helped the surgical team plan the procedure according to Mr. Kumar’s unique anatomy and place the implant with greater accuracy.The surgery was successful, and doctors were able to correct the difference in Mr. Singh's leg lengths. He recovered well after the procedure and was discharged within five days.“When pelvis is tilted, placing hip joint components precisely is challenging by manual methods as the pelvis corrects itself and leg length changes after surgery. So, all planning is guesstimate to some extent and not replicable precisely in operation theatre. It risks dislocation and residual leg length difference. Robot on the other hand allows implant positioning in a way which becomes ideal once the deformities of pelvis disappear leaving no room for error, dislocation or residual limb length difference,” Dr Rajesh added.Today, Mr Kumar is walking comfortably and preparing for upcoming travel plans that is something that had become increasingly difficult because of his condition.His case shows how robotic-assisted surgery can help improve outcomes in complex orthopaedic cases, especially when achieving precise alignment and equal limb length is critical.