During the neonatal hip examination, which finding can be mistaken for a pathological reducing sign but is often a normal finding in neonates?

• A. Click
• B. Clunk
• C. Pain
• D. Swelling

Answer: (A)

A small, painless click during the neonatal hip exam can be a normal finding due to hip laxity and the way the joint surfaces move as you pass through the range of motion. This click may be mistaken for a reducing sign, but it does not indicate dislocation or instability. A true reducing sign is a palpable clunk felt when a dislocated hip relocates into the acetabulum during the maneuver, which signals a real problem. Pain or swelling are not typical in a healthy neonatal hip exam and would raise concern for other issues.