Prospective survey to verify the Ottawa ankle rules.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if the Ottawa ankle rules are valid in the setting of an urban teaching hospital in the UK.


METHODS
A prospective survey.


METHODS
Accident and emergency department, Western Infirmary, Glasgow from 1 April 1995 to 31 August 1995.


METHODS
800 patients with an acute ankle injury.


RESULTS
800 patients were used for analysis of which 584 (73%) were radiographed; 70 (12%) had fractures, 63 (10.8%) of which were significant. Four of these patients with fractures fulfilled none of the Ottawa ankle rules criteria for plain radiography.


CONCLUSIONS
Application of the Ottawa ankle rules to this group of patients would have produced a sensitivity of 93.6%. Although useful, decision rules should be used with care and not replace clinical judgment and experience.
Accident and Emergency Department, Western Infirmary, Glasgow.
S
S
Perry
N
N
Raby
P T
PT
Grant
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017678:Sex Distribution; D006113:United Kingdom; D014505:Urban Population