This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Barlow's sign

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Barlow's provocative test looks for a dislocatable hip in congenital dislocation of the hip - ie. a hip joint that is reduced but dislocatable.

The following sequence is followed:

  • the pelvis is stabilised by one hand gripping between the sacrum and pubic symphisis
  • with the thumb of the other hand along the thigh and fingers on the greater trochanter, backward pressure is applied to dislocate the hip
  • if the head of the femur subluxes, force in the opposite direction or abduction should promote reduction
  • the test is repeated on the other side

A positive Barlow's sign is a palpable clunk of exit with telescoping of the leg. It may prove to be positive, even if the Ortolani test is negative.

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.