Barlow and Ortolani tests in infants to detect developmental dysplasia of the hip; which statement is correct?

• A. A positive clunk indicates healthy hip.
• B. Barlow dislocates a subsiding hip; Ortolani reduces a dislocated hip; a positive clunk indicates DDH.
• C. Barlow reduces a dislocated hip; Ortolani dislocates a hip; no clunk.
• D. These tests do not assess DDH.

Answer: (B)

These maneuvers test newborn hip stability to screen for developmental dysplasia of the hip. The Barlow test checks whether a hip that is currently reduced can be dislocated by applying gentle posterior pressure with the hip flexed and adducted; a palpable clunk means the femoral head slides out of the socket, indicating an unstable or dislocatable hip consistent with DDH. The Ortolani test then assesses whether a dislocated hip can be reduced back into the socket by abducting and lifting the femoral head anteriorly; a clunk felt as the hip relocates is a positive sign that a dislocated hip can be reduced, again pointing to DDH. The statement that correctly reflects this says the Barlow maneuver dislocates a hip that can be dislocated, the Ortolani maneuver reduces a dislocated hip, and a positive clunk indicates DDH. The other descriptions misstate what the tests do or deny their role in assessing DDH.