Why is one arm longer than the other arm and why is one leg

Solution

Though this questions looks non-technical it’s actually a medical condition which most of us are not aware of. It is known as Limb length discrepancy, a limb length difference may simply be a mild variation between the two sides of the body. This is not unusual. However Greater differences in length, however, can affect a person’s well-being and quality of life.

In most cases, the bones affected by a leg length discrepancy are the femur (thighbone) and tibia (shinbone). Like the other long bones in the body, the femur and tibia do not grow from the center outward. Instead, growth occurs around the growth plates. If illness or injury damages the growth plate, the bone may grow at a faster or slower rate than the bone on the opposite side which results in “one arm longer than the other arm or one leg longer than the other leg” namely limb length discrepancy.

Causes are as follows:

1. Bone Infection

“Bone infections that occur in growing children may cause a significant limb length discrepancy. This is especially true if the infection happens in infancy”.

2. Bone Diseases (Dysplasias)

2a. Neurofibromatosis

2b. Multiple hereditary exostoses

Other causes of limb length discrepancy include:

3. Previous Injury to a Bone in the Leg

4. Neurologic conditions

5. Juvenile arthritis (Conditions that cause inflammation of the joints during growth)