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Eighteen months ago I had a left total hip replacement. Everything went well but now the left leg is shorter than the right side. Should I have the right leg done now to even them out?

That may not be necessary. The first step is to bring this problem to your doctor's attention. It's possible a simple revision of the left hip implant is all that's needed. Sometimes a plastic spacer can be inserted into the hip socket to make up the difference in leg length.

If the hip can't be changed, then perhaps a shoe insert or shoe lift would help. A physical therapist can help you with this decision. It's important to make sure that whatever measures are taken, your spine remains straight and your hips are level. This will help prevent other problems later on.

Reference: 

Peter F. Sharkey, MD, et al. Relationship Between Surgical Volume and Early Outcomes of Total Hip Arthroplasty. In The Journal of Arthroplasty. September 2004. Vol. 19. No. 6. Pp. 694-699.

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