A detailed review of hip reduction maneuvers: A focus on physician safety and introduction of the Waddell technique

Abstract

Dislocation of the hip is a well-described event that occurs in conjunction with highenergy trauma or postoperatively after total hip arthroplasty. Bigelow first described closed treatment of a dislocated hip in 1870, and in the last decade many reduction techniques have been proposed. In this article, we review all described techniques for the reduction of hip dislocation while focusing on physician safety. Furthermore, we introduce a modified technique for the reduction of posterior hip dislocation that allows the physician to adhere to the back safety principles set for by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.