Method and apparatus for performing anterior hip surgery

A method comprising:

• defining a standard pelvic plane for a patient;
• defining a supine pelvic reference plane for the patient;
• establishing a mathematical relationship between the standard pelvic plane and the supine pelvic reference plane;
• determining an orientation for a prosthetic component relative to the standard pelvic plane;
• translating the orientation to the supine pelvic reference plane;
• docking a registration device to predetermined points on the patient's pelvis;
• and
• providing a directional indicator on the registration device, where the directional indicator is configured to define the orientation for the prosthetic component.

A surgical registration device comprising:

• a support bar having
• first and second ends,
• a longitudinal axis, and
• a nominal plane;
• a first leg removably attached to the first end of the support bar;
• a second leg removably and adjustably attached to the second end of the support bar, where the second leg is adjustable in a direction along the longitudinal axis;
• a third leg removably and adjustably attached to the support bar, where the third leg is adjustable in a first direction along the longitudinal axis and in a second direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis;
• and
• a direction indicator mounted to the support bar, the direction indicator defining a predetermined orientation relative to the nominal plane defined by the support bar.