Objective To investigate the accuracy of intrapartum transvaginal digital examination in defining the position of the fetal head before instrumental delivery. Patients and Methods

Routine digital examination during labor fails to identify the correct fetal position in the majority of cases.

The majority of occiput posterior positions during labor rotate to the anterior position even at 10 cm of cervical dilatation. However, the vast majority of occiput posterior positions at delivery are a consequence of persistence of this position during labor rather than malrotation from an initial occiput anterior or transverse position.