Turtle sign (fetal shoulder dystocia)

Last revised by Daniel J Bell ◉ on 22 Jun 2021

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Moore C, Bell D, Iqbal S, Turtle sign (fetal shoulder dystocia). Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 02 Oct 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-71627

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-71627

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/71627

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:

22 Jun 2021, Daniel J Bell ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Daniel J Bell had no recorded disclosures.

View Daniel J Bell's current disclosures

Revisions:

5 times, by 3 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Paediatrics, Obstetrics

Sections:

Signs

Tags:

true shoulder dystocia, cases3

Synonyms:

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.