Is anterior Rubin's manuever best choice for shoulder dystocia?

Article

In a simulator study comparing McRoberts', anterior Rubin's, and posterior Rubin's maneuvers for initial management of shoulder dystocia, researchers from Johns Hopkins found that anterior Rubin's maneuver required the least traction for delivery and produced the least amount of brachial plexus tension.

In a simulator study comparing McRoberts', anterior Rubin's, and posterior Rubin's maneuvers for initial management of shoulder dystocia, researchers from Johns Hopkins found that anterior Rubin's maneuver required the least traction for delivery and produced the least amount of brachial plexus tension.

Using a laboratory birthing simulator, a single operator performed 30 simulated shoulder dystocia deliveries (10 with each of the three maneuvers), following each with standard downward traction.

The authors found that Rubin's maneuvers required less traction than McRoberts': 16.2 ± 2.1 lb for McRoberts' compared with 8.8± 2.2 lb and 6.5 ± 1.8 lb for posterior and anterior Rubin's, respectively (P<0.0001). Of course, they warned that further study is needed to validate these findings in clinical practice.

Recent Videos
Expert discussions from the 2025 ACOG meeting | Image Credit: © stevengaertner - © stevengaertner - stock.adobe.com.
Trina Mansour, MD
Negative pressure wound therapy reduces c-section infections and costs | Image Credit: doctors.valleyhealth.com.
Amy Valent DO, MCR, highlights new tech for prenatal diabetes management | Image Credit: linkedin.com.
Lisa Bayer, MD, MPH
Megan Wasson, DO, FACOG
Megan Cohen, MD, MPH, outlines 2024 CDC contraception guidelines | Image Credit: linkedin.com.
Wasson and Colak
Johanna Finkle, MD, weight loss specialist, OB/GYN, The University of Kansas Health System.
Navigating hormone therapy in high-risk menopause cases | Image Credit: © dhaj7-cepo.com.
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.