Which maneuver is used to assess whether a hip can be dislocated in a newborn by applying gentle pressure to the hip while it is flexed?

• A. Galeazzi sign
• B. Barlow test
• C. Ortolani test
• D. Allis sign

Answer: (B)

Testing newborn hip stability to screen for developmental dysplasia of the hip. The maneuver that checks whether a hip can be dislocated with gentle pressure when the hip is flexed is the Barlow test. In this screening, the hip is held flexed to about 90 degrees with the knee bent, the thigh is gently adducted, and a light posterior force is applied along the femur to see if the femoral head can be slipped out of the acetabulum. A positive result means the hip is unstable and can be dislocated with this maneuver, indicating DDH risk and the need for prompt follow-up.

Contrast with the Ortolani test, which looks for a hip that is dislocated and can be reduced back into the socket by abducting the thigh and lifting anteriorly; a clunk during reduction is the sign. Galeazzi and Allis signs are static indicators of hip or leg-length discrepancy, not the dislocation-prone maneuver described.