Turtle sign (fetal shoulder dystocia)
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Citation:
Moore C, Bell D, Iqbal S, Turtle sign (fetal shoulder dystocia). Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 15 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-71627
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rID:
71627
Article created:
15 Oct 2019,
Candace Makeda Moore
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Candace Makeda Moore had no recorded disclosures.
View Candace Makeda Moore's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Daniel J Bell had no recorded disclosures.
View Daniel J Bell's current disclosures
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3 times, by
3 contributors -
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- Turtle signs (fetal shoulder dystocia)
Turtle sign is a clinical sign of fetal shoulder dystocia in which the fetal head retracts 3. The head bobbing, emerging and then pulling back could be conceptualised as similar to a turtle pulling its head into and out of its shell. The sign does not necessarily signify true shoulder dystocia 2.
References
- 1. Baxley EG, Gobbo RW. Shoulder dystocia. (2004) American family physician. 69 (7): 1707-14. Pubmed
- 2. Mahran MA, Sayed AT, Imoh-Ita F. Avoiding over diagnosis of shoulder dystocia. (2008) Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology : the journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 28 (2): 173-6. doi:10.1080/01443610801913145 - Pubmed
- 3. Wright M, Higgins PG. How competent are you (or your staff) with shoulder dystocia?. (1999) AWHONN lifelines. 3 (1): 35-8. doi:10.1111/j.1552-6356.1999.tb01063.x - Pubmed
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