The effects of spinal anaesthesia neuroleptanaesthesia and surgery on the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats were investigated in two groups of 11 young, metabolically healthy patients, undergoing trauma surgical procedures. For both groups the determined parameters glucose, lactate, glycerol, ketone-bodies, NEFA and insulin remained, during the operative and early postoperative phase, within the physiological range without any marked differences. Both anaesthetic procedures seemed to be equally suited for these operations; therefore other criteria should be used as a basis for the selection of the anaesthetic management.