Anatomy Def: Anisomelia is disparity in leg (or arm) length.
Outlander Def: Eppie’s puir right leg – too short and verra painful to walk!
Learn about the thigh bone in Anatomy lesson #7, Jamie’s Thighs – Ode To Joy” and lower leg bones in Anatomy Lesson #27, “Colum’s Legs and Other Things, Too!”
Anisomelia is a pathology term referring to paired limbs of unequal length. Although usually ascribed to legs, it is also true of arms although arms usually cause less morbidity.
Fact: Amazingly, over half of people have some degree of leg anisomelia, although most are minor and may not be a source of difficulty.
Anisomelia, also known as Leg Length Discrepancy (LLD), has two main causes:
1. Legs are unequal lengths due to structural differences caused by:
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- Birth defect
- Growth plate injury
- Fractures
- Bone tumors and therapies
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2. Legs are the same length but one is held higher and tighter against the body due to neuromuscular injuries of pelvis or thigh.
The most common treatment for discrepancies in leg length is a simple heel lift placed inside the shoe. In cases where length discrepancy is moderate, an external build up of the shoe, as per Eppie, is usually more comfortable. In severe cases, surgery can be employed to shorten the longer leg or make the shorter leg longer via limb lengthening.
A limp that appears to worsen in a child is a clue to parents that something might be amiss. Physical examination, X-rays and observation are part of the diagnostic workup, during which lengths of femur, tibia, and fibula are measured.
Dr. Claire performs a brief physical examine on Eppie to assess her limp. She determines her hips are uneven due to anisomelia. Go, Claire! 👩🏻⚕️
Read about Hepzibah, better known as Eppie, who appears in big book six, A Breath of Snow and Ashes! Eppie is a fascinating character and Bree’s encounter with Bonnet even more threatening. Best read the books!
“I’m not—” Brianna began, but then stopped, not wanting to offend the woman.
“Not a whore?” The young woman grinned broadly, exposing the black gap of her missing tooth. “I might ha’ guessed as much, chickie. Not as it would make no never mind to Stephen. He sows as he likes, and I can see as how he might like you. Most men would.” She looked at Brianna with dispassionate assessment, nodding at her disheveled hair, flushed face, and tidy figure.
“I expect they like you, too,” Brianna said politely, with a faint feeling of surreality. “Er … what’s your name?”
“Hepzibah,” the woman said with an air of pride. “Or Eppie, for short, like.” There were coins still on the desk, but the whore left them alone. Bonnet might be generous, but evidently the whore didn’t want to take advantage of him—more likely a sign of fear than of friendship, Brianna thought. She took a deep breath and pressed on.
“What a lovely name. Pleased to meet you, Eppie.” She held out a hand. “My name is Brianna Fraser MacKenzie.” She gave all three names, hoping the whore would remember at least one of them.
See Claire’s solution for Eppie’s anisomelia in Outlander episode 510, Mercy Shall Follow Me. Claire’s caring heart leads Eppie to spill the beans about Bonnet’s lair on Ocracoke Island!
Puir Eppie. The lass has a verra hard life, but cobbler man adds a new lift for the heel of her right shoe! 🤗 (psst….. see the stack of cards)
The deeply grateful,
Outlander Anatomist
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