Barlow test
System: Muscles, Bones & Joints Signs · All muscles, bones & joints signs
What it is — and how it is elicited
In a newborn, the examiner gently pushes the flexed hip backward and outward; a clunk as the hip slips out of its socket is a positive result.
What a positive finding suggests
Associated with a dislocatable hip in developmental dysplasia of the hip.
◈ Behind the name
Thomas Geoffrey Barlow (1915–1975), British orthopaedic surgeon — a different Barlow from the mitral valve syndrome.
Related signs — Muscles, Bones & Joints Signs
Browse the B section of the A–Z list or return to the Clinical Signs hub.
Please note: This page is an educational reference about clinical examination signs. A clinical sign supports — and never replaces — a full clinical evaluation, examination and appropriate testing. A sign being present does not by itself prove a diagnosis, and an absent sign does not rule one out. If you have symptoms that worry you, see a health professional.