In the Ortolani test, how is the hip relocated?

The Ortolani test is a clinical maneuver used to assess for hip dysplasia in infants. In this test, the hip is relocated by applying an anterior force. This is performed by gently abducting the hip while applying an anterior pressure on the greater trochanter, which effectively reduces a dislocated hip back into its socket. The goal is to listen for a "clunk" sound, indicating that the femoral head has moved back into the acetabulum.

In the context of the Ortolani test, applying a posterior force would not facilitate the relocation of the hip joint, as the mechanism requires the hip to be brought forward into the joint space, not pushed backwards. Forcing the leg downward typically describes another action that is not related to relocating the hip, and flexing the knee does not assist in the relocation process either. Therefore, the anterior force applied during the Ortolani test is crucial for successfully assessing and potentially correcting hip dislocation in infants.