Which maneuver is used to assess hip laxity in suspected hip dysplasia?

Which maneuver is used to assess hip laxity in suspected hip dysplasia?

• A. Ortolani maneuver
• B. Barlow test
• C. Lachman test
• D. McMurray test

Answer: (A)

Hip laxity in suspected developmental dysplasia of the hip is evaluated by checking whether a dislocated hip can be reduced back into the socket. The Ortolani maneuver specifically tests this reducibility. With the infant lying on the back, flex the hips and knees to 90 degrees, gently abduct the thighs, and apply slight anterior pressure on the femoral heads to guide them into the acetabulum. A positive sign is a palpable or audible clunk as the femoral head enters the socket, indicating a dislocated but reducible hip. This differs from the Barlow test, which attempts to dislocate a hip that’s unstable, and from the Lachman and McMurray tests, which assess knee ligaments and menisci, not the hip.

Hip laxity in suspected developmental dysplasia of the hip is evaluated by checking whether a dislocated hip can be reduced back into the socket. The Ortolani maneuver specifically tests this reducibility. With the infant lying on the back, flex the hips and knees to 90 degrees, gently abduct the thighs, and apply slight anterior pressure on the femoral heads to guide them into the acetabulum. A positive sign is a palpable or audible clunk as the femoral head enters the socket, indicating a dislocated but reducible hip. This differs from the Barlow test, which attempts to dislocate a hip that’s unstable, and from the Lachman and McMurray tests, which assess knee ligaments and menisci, not the hip.