Two hundred and thirty-four total hip replacements in 199 patients
performed by one surgeon were reviewed to compare the effects of spinal and
general anesthesia. The amount of total blood loss was reduced an average
of 600 milliliters in patients under spinal anesthesia. The amounts of
operative blood loss, postoperative suction drainage, and blood replacement
were also reduced very significantly (p smaller than 0.001). The patients
in the two anesthesia groups were similar as to sex, age, body weight,
pre-existing medical disease, preoperative medications administered, hip
disease, type of prosthesis used, position during surgery, and
anticoagulation regimen. The postoperative complications were fewer in the
spinal anesthesia group. It is concluded from this study that spinal
anesthesia is to be preferred over general anesthesia in patients
undergoing total hip replacement.