Lateral position reduces blood loss in hip replacement surgery: a prospective randomized study of 74 patients

We performed a prospective randomized study of 74 patients undergoing hip replacement surgery and compared the perioperative blood loss in the lateral position with that in the supine position. The surgeons and surgical technique were the same in the two groups. The patients operated on in the lateral position had a significantly lower total blood loss, on average 201 ml less.