I am a 63-year-old man who is considering a hip replacement. My hip was broken 35 years ago and has become very arthritic. After the hip was broken, I was left with my right leg 11/2 inches shorter than the other. Can this be evened up if I have hip surgery?

Often after a hip fracture or broken bone, arthritis and the shortening of a limb can occur. A limb length discrepancy can reduce the efficiency of your walk and can contribute to lower back problems. A hip-replacement surgery can ease the arthritic symptoms in your hip and equalize your leg lengths. Lengthening of a limb during hip replacement surgery can put an undo stretch on the nerves that run from the hip down into the leg. However, adding 1 1/2 inches to a limb length is not generally associated with nerve injury. Adding more than 2 inches can produce nerve problems.