Tips of the trade #8. A goniometer for acetabular positioning

Dislocations following total hip replacement continue to be a small but persistent problem. Most authors believe one of the major causes is a malposition of the femoral head and/or acetabular component. We have developed a simple goniometer that positions on the face of the acetabular component and reads a crude but helpful position of the prosthesis both in lateral tilt and anteversion.