**3.2 Patient position**

Preoperative physical examination, blood analysis for white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP), hip X-rays, and CT assessment are needed to evaluate possible other causes of hip/groin pain in total hip replacement patients. Infection and prosthesis loosening need to be ruled out.

The author's preferred patient position is supine on a radiolucent traction table (Maquet, Rastatt, Germany) similar for the patient with an arthroscopic proximal release. Both legs and feet are well padded, wrapped with soft cotton and hung to the footplate. A large, well-padded perineal post is used to prevent complications from pudendal nerve compression. The C-arm is placed at the non-operative side and positioned horizontally to check the anteroposterior view of the affected hip. Traction of the prosthetic component is not a requirement and the release is performed at the lesser trochanter level. The affected leg is placed in an externally rotated position of the hip in full knee extension. This moves the lesser trochanter further anteriorly (**Figure 8**).
