Suspect Ankle Fracture

Summary:

Ankle radiograph if patient meets Ottawa Rules: 

Can’t bear weight immediately after injury 

OR 

Point tenderness over medial malleolus, posteroinferior lateral malleolus, talus or calcaneus 

OR 

Cannot walk 4 steps in emergency department

If one of these describes the patient, an ankle radiograph is appropriate.

As always, please refer to the source Appropriateness Criteria created by the American College of Radiology, here.

Educational purposes for licensed providers.

Note to Patients:

Radiology is a very large and ever changing field and this post is to help your provider.  When combined with a thorough history and physical exam, this information can be very useful.  Your provider is best suited to answer specific questions regarding this post.

A provider is usually a Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant or Medical Doctor.

Of course, this is not a substitute for medical care.