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Leg = 288 weeks. Hip injuries, femur fractures, and total hip replacements schedule here.
TL;DR
- The leg is scheduled at 288 weeks under WCL §15(3).
- Hip injuries — labral tears, femoral neck fractures, femoral shaft fractures, total hip replacement — value at the leg.
- Total hip arthroplasty carries a significant minimum SLU under the 2018 Guidelines.
- Knee and foot injuries are scheduled separately (knee SLU, foot SLU) but proximal impairments may push to leg-level.
What the leg value covers
The 288-week leg value covers the lower extremity from the hip to and including the foot for scheduling purposes — but for SLU calculation, more distal injuries are usually scheduled at the foot (205 weeks). Knee injuries are conceptually scheduled at the leg, but for the purposes of representation we treat them under knee SLU given how much specific Guidelines content applies. The “leg” page here is most relevant for hip and thigh injuries.
How hip and thigh SLU are calculated
Range of motion. Hip flexion, extension, internal rotation, external rotation, abduction, adduction — each against normal benchmarks.
Surgical minimums.
- Total hip arthroplasty (THA) — significant minimum, often the controlling number
- Hip resurfacing — separate minimum
- Femoral neck ORIF — minimum
- Femoral shaft IM nailing — minimum
- Hip labral repair — minimum
- Hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) — minimum
Leg length discrepancy. Documented LLD adds to the percentage.
Gait disturbance. Antalgic gait, Trendelenburg gait, abductor weakness — each can contribute.
Atrophy. Quadriceps atrophy on measurement adds to the percentage.
What I see go wrong
- Total hip arthroplasty undervalued with “good outcome” framing despite the Guidelines minimum
- Hip ROM measured supine only when standing and prone measurements are part of a complete exam
- LLD ignored when it’s documented on imaging
- Apportionment to OA generically, without specific medical foundation
Common patterns
- Construction — falls producing femoral neck fractures
- MTA / sanitation / municipal maintenance — slip-and-fall hip injuries
- Healthcare — patient-handling hip injuries (less common than knee/back but real)
- Older worker populations — fall injuries producing fragility fractures
What to do next
Contact me directly for hip/leg SLU evaluation. Run the IME Red Flag Checker on any concerning IME report.
Frequently asked questions
What does the leg SLU cover?
The 288-week leg value covers hip and thigh injuries — labral tears, femoral neck and shaft fractures, total hip replacement, femoroacetabular impingement. Knee injuries also fall under the leg umbrella but are typically analyzed separately under the knee SLU framework.
What’s the SLU for total hip arthroplasty?
Total hip replacement carries one of the larger Guidelines minimums for the leg — often the controlling number for THA cases regardless of subjective outcome. The minimum applies even when post-op function is good.
Related pages
- Schedule Loss of Use — knee
- Schedule Loss of Use — foot and ankle
- Ladder falls
- Construction-site injuries
- What is a Schedule Loss of Use award?
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the leg SLU cover?
The 288-week leg value covers hip and thigh injuries — labral tears, femoral neck and shaft fractures, total hip replacement, femoroacetabular impingement. Knee injuries also fall under the leg umbrella but are typically analyzed separately under the knee SLU framework.
What's the SLU for total hip arthroplasty?
Total hip replacement carries one of the larger Guidelines minimums for the leg — often the controlling number for THA cases regardless of subjective outcome. The minimum applies even when post-op function is good.
This page is informational. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every workers' compensation case turns on its facts. For analysis of your matter, contact me directly.