Neonates within the first weeks of life should be screened for hip dysplasia using which examination maneuver?

Neonates within the first weeks of life should be screened for hip dysplasia using which examination maneuver?

• A. Neonates within the first weeks of life
• B. Teenagers
• C. Adults with hip pain
• D. Premature infants with sepsis

Answer: (A)

Screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip in newborns relies on specific hip examination maneuvers, with the Ortolani maneuver being a primary test. In a supine infant, flex the hips to about 90 degrees and gently abduct them while applying anterior pressure on the femoral heads to guide a dislocated hip back into the acetabulum; a distinctive clunk as the head seats into place indicates a reducible dislocation. The complementary Barlow maneuver tests for instability by adducting the hip and applying a posterior force to see if the hip can be dislocated; a positive sign suggests risk for dysplasia. Detecting these issues early, within the first weeks of life, allows prompt management—often with a Pavlik harness—to normalize hip development and reduce the need for surgery. If screening is abnormal, imaging with ultrasound is used to confirm and guide treatment. The other options refer to populations or situations that are not hip-screening maneuvers in neonates.

Screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip in newborns relies on specific hip examination maneuvers, with the Ortolani maneuver being a primary test. In a supine infant, flex the hips to about 90 degrees and gently abduct them while applying anterior pressure on the femoral heads to guide a dislocated hip back into the acetabulum; a distinctive clunk as the head seats into place indicates a reducible dislocation. The complementary Barlow maneuver tests for instability by adducting the hip and applying a posterior force to see if the hip can be dislocated; a positive sign suggests risk for dysplasia. Detecting these issues early, within the first weeks of life, allows prompt management—often with a Pavlik harness—to normalize hip development and reduce the need for surgery. If screening is abnormal, imaging with ultrasound is used to confirm and guide treatment. The other options refer to populations or situations that are not hip-screening maneuvers in neonates.