Barlow maneuver

Physical examination performed on infants to screen for developmental dysplasia of the hip

Barlow maneuver
Purpose	screen for developmental dysplasia of hip

The Barlow maneuver is a physical examination performed on infants to screen for developmental dysplasia of the hip. It is named for Dr. Thomas Geoffrey Barlow (September 25, 1915 – May 25, 1975), an English orthopedic surgeon, who devised this test. It was clinically tested during 1957–1962 at Hope Hospital, Salford, Lancashire.^[1]

Procedure

The maneuver is easily performed by adducting the hip (bringing the thigh towards the midline) while applying pressure on the knee, directing the force posteriorly.^[2]

Interpretation

If the hip is dislocatable — that is, if the hip can be popped out of socket with this maneuver — the test is considered positive. The Ortolani maneuver is then used, to confirm the positive finding (i.e., that the hip actually dislocated).

References

^ Barlow TG (1962). "Early diagnosis and treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip". The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 44-B (2): 92–301.
^ French LM, Dietz FR (July 1999). "Screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip". American Family Physician. 60 (1): 177–84, 187–8. PMID 10414637.

Musculoskeletal examination

Leg

Hip examination	Galeazzi test Allis test Barlow maneuver Ober's test Ortolani test Patrick's test Thomas test Trendelenburg's sign
Knee examination	Ballottement Clarke's test Drawer test Lachman test Patellar tap Pivot-shift test Valgus stress test meniscus Apley grind test McMurray test ligament and meniscus Unhappy triad
Foot and ankle	Hubscher's maneuver Mulder's sign Thompson test
General	Straight leg raise Lasègue's sign Gait abnormality Trendelenburg gait Unequal leg length Gower's sign

Arm

Shoulder examination	Apprehension test Jobe's test Neer Impingement Test Yergason's test rotator cuff Hawkins–Kennedy test Watson's test
Elbow examination	Cozen's test Elbow extension test
Hand and wrist	Durkan's test Finkelstein's test Froment's sign Lunotriquetral shear test Phalen maneuver Tinel sign Watson's test
General	Bethlem sign