Ortolani test

System: Muscles, Bones & Joints Signs · All muscles, bones & joints signs

What it is — and how it is elicited

In a newborn with a dislocated hip, lifting the thigh outward while pressing gently forward produces a palpable clunk as the hip slips back into its socket.

What a positive finding suggests

Associated with developmental dysplasia of the hip with a reducible dislocation.

◈ Behind the name

Marino Ortolani (1904–1983), Italian paediatrician.

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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.