In neonatal hip dysplasia assessment, findings from which maneuver are used to screen?

• A. Barlow maneuver findings
• B. Ortolani maneuver findings
• C. Allis sign findings
• D. Galeazzi sign findings

Answer: (B)

Screening for neonatal hip dysplasia focuses on detecting hip instability with a dynamic examination. The Ortolani maneuver checks for a hip that is dislocated but reducible; when the hip is flexed and abducted, a palpable clunk as the femoral head slides back into the acetabulum indicates a positive finding. This directly identifies a dislocated hip that can be reduced, making Ortolani findings the most informative screen for DDH in newborns. In contrast, the Barlow maneuver looks for a hip that can be dislocated with gentle posterior pressure, which flags risk but isn’t as definitive for a dislocated yet reducible hip. Allis/Galeazzi signs assess leg-length discrepancy rather than hip stability and are less specific for screening DDH.