The length of the lower limb prosthesis was compared with the length of the contralateral lower extremity in 44 Korea war or Vetnam was disabled amputees by a radiological weight bearing method developed by O. Friberg.

Considering a shortening of 10mm for above-knee prostheses and of 5 mm for below-knee prostheses as tolerance limit, the length of the prosthesis was acceptable in 25 cases (56.8% of the total group).

In 16 cases (36.4%) the prosthesis was up to 27.0 mm too short and in 3 cases (6.8%) up to 20.0 mm too long.

Chronic pain symptoms of low back and hip correlated significantly with the lateral asymmetry caused by incorrect length of the prosthesis.

Independently of the side of amputation, the unilateral hip pain occured mainly on the long leg side.