In plain words
The Barlow maneuver is a gentle test of hip stability in babies. The examiner bends the baby's hips and knees, then holds the thigh and presses gently backward. If a hip is unstable, the examiner may feel it slide in and out of the socket. The test screens for , a range of conditions in which the hip joint is loose or misshapen. Most hips pass. Some hips click or feel loose and then settle on their own, and some need treatment such as a harness or a brace. The maneuver is often paired with the , which checks whether a dislocated hip can be moved back into place. The test is done by a clinician, not at home.
The deeper version
The Barlow test, described in the 1960s, adducts a flexed hip while applying posterior pressure to see whether the femoral head can be displaced from the acetabulum. The Ortolani test reduces a dislocated hip with abduction. Both are clinical screens for developmental dysplasia of the hip, which spans dysplasia, subluxation, and dislocation. The American Academy of Pediatrics clinical practice guideline on early detection (2000) recommended clinical examination at birth and at well-child visits, with ultrasound for infants with risk factors such as breech presentation and female sex. Clinical examination has limited sensitivity for mild instability, which is the reason for selective imaging. The main controversy concerns false-positive imaging referrals and the treatment of hips that would have settled without intervention.
Where it comes up
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What mothers here say about Barlow maneuver
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Sources
- American Academy of Pediatrics — Clinical Practice Guideline: Early detection of developmental dysplasia of the hip, 2000
- Barlow TG — Early diagnosis of developmental dysplasia of the hip. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (British volume), 1962