The surgical orientation system is used to assist a surgeon to orient aprosthetic component relative to a patientsanatomy during surgery. An embodiment is particularly suited for assistingsurgeons to locate an acetabular cup into a reamed acetabulum.The system includes: an implement (1) for releasable attachment of aprosthetic component an electronic orientationmonitor (2) attached to the implement (1) and a brace (3). The brace (3) isreleasably attachable to the patient so as to define areference point (4) relative to the patients anatomy. This reference point(4) is external of the patient and includes at least one surface(5) defining a reference plane that is used to orient the monitor (2) into areference orientation to calibrate the monitor (2).The surgeon then manipulates the implement (1) so that the prostheticcomponent is in the desired position relative to the patientand the monitor (2) provides an indication to the surgeon when a subsequentorientation of the monitor (2) has a predefined relationshiprelative to the reference orientation for example the predefined relationshipmay be parallel to within predefined tolerances.Upon receiving the indication the surgeon inserts the prosthetic componentinto the patient.
