During a joint replacement procedure, your surgeon will strive to ensure that the implants and your anatomy are aligned properly. Accurate alignment of the hip or knee components is critical to the overall function of your new joint.1,2 It also plays a role in helping your joint feel more natural again, and helping the joint replacement to potentially last longer.3 In hip replacement surgery, properly aligning the hip socket and femoral implants is important in reducing adverse effects such as recurrent dislocation, osteolysis (bone destruction), and polyethylene wear.3 All of these post-operative complications may lead to revision surgery.3
In an effort to prevent such complications, your surgeon may use special instruments like the PAL, or Pelvic Alignment Level. Your surgeon may use PAL with the hope of preventing these complications by more consistently and reliably aligning your total hip components.4 Accurate implant alignment facilitates more natural hip biomechanics and may lead to enhanced longevity.3
References
1. Sikorski JM, Chauhan S. Computer- Assisted Orthopaedic Surgery: Do we need CAOS? JBJS, 2003; 85-B:319-23.
2. Noble PC, Sugano N, Johnston JD, Thompson MT, Conditt MA, Engh CA, Sr,Mathis KB. Computer Simulation: How can it help the surgeon optimize implant position? CORR. 2003 Dec; (417):242-52.
3. Kennedy, J. G. MMSc, FRCSI, Rogers, W. B. MD, Soffe, K. E. MB, et. al., Effect of Acetabular Component Orientation on Recurrent Dislocation, Pelvic Osteolysis, Polyethylene Wear, and Component Migration, JOA, Vol. 13, No. 5, 1998, pp. 530-534.
4. Stryker Orthopaedics Clinical Research Protocol Number 2006-PAL-001.
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The pain felt excruciating. It felt like broken glass inside my hip and was constant when I was either walking or sitting down. The pain affected my life, right down to dressing myself, going to work... 
