What is the primary purpose of keeping an infant's hips flexed and abducted with a Pavlik harness?

• A. To facilitate hip joint stabilization
• B. To promote leg straightening
• C. To relieve abdominal pressure
• D. To prevent scoliosis

Answer: (A)

Positioning to achieve and maintain hip reduction is what the Pavlik harness is designed for. Keeping the infant’s hips flexed and abducted helps the femoral head stay seated in the acetabulum, which stabilizes the hip joint and supports proper development. This alignment allows the joint to form normally and reduces the risk of ongoing dislocation as the child grows.

This isn’t about straightening the leg, relieving abdominal pressure, or preventing scoliosis, so those goals aren’t addressed by the harness positioning. The key idea is that flexion combined with abduction keeps the head of the femur properly reduced within the socket, promoting stability and normal hip growth.