Which statement is true regarding newborn screening techniques for developmental dysplasia of the hip?

• A. Galeazzi is best for newborns.
• B. Galeazzi is best after 3 months.
• C. Barlow and Ortolani maneuvers are used to assess hip stability in newborns up to 3 months of age.
• D. Trendelenburg testing is used in newborns.

Answer: (C)

Testing hip stability in newborns relies on maneuvers that can reveal a hip that hasn’t yet formed a stable socket. The Barlow maneuver checks whether a dislocatable hip can be pushed out of the acetabulum by applying gentle posterior pressure while the hip is flexed and adducted. The Ortolani maneuver does the opposite: with the hip flexed and abducted, it attempts to reduce a dislocated hip, and a palpable “clunk” as the femoral head slips back into place confirms instability that was previously dislocated. These maneuvers are most reliable in newborns and infants up to about three months because the hip joint is still immature and its stability can change as ligaments tighten and the socket deepens.

Other signs, like the Galeazzi (Allis) sign, can suggest hip issues by comparing knee height when the hips and knees are flexed, but they’re not as definitive for newborn screening as Barlow and Ortolani. The Trendelenburg test is used to assess hip abductor strength in older children or adults, not newborns, so it isn’t applicable here.