Ortolani click – What is the purpose, indication and relevance?

Ortolani Click Test: Client is supine. Practitioner flexes the hips and knees to 90°, placing anterior pressure on the greater trochanters, lifting the femoral head and allowing the hips to externally rotate.

Purpose:

• Assess for developmental hip dysplasia

Indications:

• New born exam

Relevance:

• Positive test – distinctive ‘click’ (heard and felt as the femoral head relocates anteriorly into the acetabulum) is indicative of hip dysplasia.

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This post was written by Omar Rifai