[Obstetrical maneuvers: a personal technic of digital rotation]

After a brief discussion of the abuse of cesarean sections over the last ten years, the authors describes a personal obstetric manoeuvre used in posterior occipital presentations; namely in those positions in which dystocia may easily occur possible harmful consequences of both the patient and fetus. The aim of this manoeuvre is to encourage or accelerate the third stage of labour and consists in using the two exploratory fingers, the index and middle fingers, to press during contractions on the left fronto-parietal zone in the right posterior occipital position or 2nd position, and on the right frontoparietal zone in the left occipital position or 4th position. Pressure must be exerted in a clockwise direction, from right to left, in position 2 (OIDP) and in an anticlockwise direction, from left to right, in position 4 (OISP) to ensure that, in both cases the occiput rotates through 3/8 of a circle to come under the pubic symphysis. The author describes the advantages and good results obtained, and expresses the hope that these may soon be confirmed by major obstetric centres.