To facilitate hip joint operations and in particular to provide a possibility to determine the orientation of the pelvis in space as precisely as possible.

This support apparatus for the support of a patient lying in the lateral position at the pelvis has a plurality of support rods, in particular precisely three support rods, which each have a known predetermined length and which are attached adjustably relative to one another to a common support frame such that different spatial configurations of the probe ends 17 of the support rods facing the patient can be set in use to make the spatial position of the support points at which the support rods are supported when used on the patient, detectable via the free ends of the support rods opposite to the probe ends and serving as detection ends.