Hip Replacement Operating Table: What Hospitals Should Specify

How the approach changes the table requirements

In a posterior or lateral approach the patient lies on their side with supports holding the pelvis, so the table needs sturdy, adjustable lateral supports and a stable top. In an anterior approach the patient lies supine, and many surgeons use either a dedicated traction table or a standard operating table with a leg positioner and extension, plus intraoperative fluoroscopy.

Ask your surgeons which approaches they use and how often. A hospital that performs mostly one approach may choose a table and accessories optimised for it, while a mixed programme needs a modular table with a flexible accessory choice.

Operating table for anterior hip replacement: leg positioners and extension

For an operating table for anterior hip replacement the key questions are about compatibility. Which leg holders, boot systems or extension attachments are approved for the table? Can the foot end of the table be lowered or removed to allow extension and adduction of the leg? Is the traction rated for the forces applied?

Our guide to traction and ortho attachments covers these checks in more detail. Whatever system your surgeons choose, request written confirmation from the supplier that it can be fitted to the table you plan to buy.

• Approved leg positioner or traction accessories
• Foot end that can be lowered or removed
• Rail standard and clamp type
• Rated load with the leg system in use

Imaging access and table-top design

Fluoroscopy is common in hip arthroplasty to verify cup and stem position. The table needs a slim base, a radiolucent top and a longitudinal slide so that the C-arm can capture AP views of the pelvis and lateral views of the hip. The Smarter Practico has a low base with 360-degree C-arm access and a 390 mm longitudinal slide, and the Grand Promerix has a slim base with improved C-arm access and a 410 mm slide.

Ask where the radiolucent area begins and ends, whether clamps and rails stay outside the image field and whether the C-arm can move around the base without hitting the table.

Load rating, stability and patient size

Hip replacement patients vary widely in weight, and the forces on the table rise during impaction and when the leg is manipulated. Check the safe working load in every position and with accessories fitted: Smarter Practico lists 280 kg in all directions including slide, and Grand Promerix lists 275 kg and is suitable for bariatric surgery.

Stability is important for precision. A stable column and a firm floor lock avoid movement during impaction; Smarter Practico has an electric floor lock, and its memory positions help return the table to the starting position.

Remember also that equipment decisions affect staffing. A table and leg system that the whole team has trained on shortens set-up and reduces the chance of positioning errors, so include training and a written positioning guide in the order.

Practical advice and next steps

Plan a mock set-up with your surgeons, anaesthetist, radiographer and nurses before you finalise the order, and include the C-arm and the planned leg system. Check cleaning, spare parts, service support and product registration with the relevant UAE authority.

For help matching a table and accessory package to your arthroplasty programme, request a consultation from Beckfinity. Our specialists can compare options in the Lojer range against your surgeons' approach. See also the orthopedic operating table guide.