Often performed with the Ortolani test, the Barlow maneuver attempts to:

• A. Diagnose soft tissue contractures that have formed around an unstable hip
• B. Dislocate the femoral head from an unstable hip joint
• C. Reduce a dislocated femoral head
• D. Assess hip stability

Answer: (B)

The Barlow maneuver is used to test newborn hip stability by trying to dislocate a hip that may be prone to dislocation. With the infant lying flat, the hip is flexed to about 90 degrees, adducted, and a gentle posterior pressure is applied to the knee to push the femoral head out of the acetabulum. If the head slips out and a clunk is felt, that shows an unstable hip—a positive sign of potential developmental dysplasia of the hip. This is often done alongside the Ortolani test, which aims to reduce a dislocated hip rather than dislocate it. Therefore, the best description of what the Barlow maneuver attempts is to dislocate the femoral head from an unstable hip joint.