Soft tissue balancing: the hip.

During total hip arthroplasty, femoral offset is restored in only 40% of patients. Increased attention to techniques that ensure leg-length and offset restoration improve total hip arthroplasty function and minimize the risk of complications such as dislocation and limp. Preoperative templating, intraoperative leg-length offset measurements, and the availability of high-offset femoral necks can improve the restoration of offset in 90% of patients. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA).