Bilateral total hip arthroplasty in a Jehovah's Witness with chronic anemia

A 15-year-old girl demonstrated the ability of a youthful person with systemic disease and chronic anemia to withstand major reconstructive surgery, despite religious beliefs prohibiting blood transfusion. With careful preoperative planning and meticulous hemostasis, as well as hypotensive anesthesia, such patients need not be denied the benefits of various reconstructive procedures, provided they and their families understand and appreciate the risks involved.