Ottawa knee rules

Background
  • 98.5% sensitive and 48.6% specific in determining knee fracture[1]
  • Can be applied to pediatric population[2]
  • Rule has been retrospectively and retrospectively validated[3][4][5]

Criteria

Ottawa knee rules
Ottawa knee rules points of tenderness

X-ray is only required in patients who have an acute injury and one or more of the following:

  • Age >55
  • Isolated tenderness of the patella
  • Tenderness at the fibular head
  • Inability flex to 90 degrees
  • Inability to walk 4 steps BOTH immediately after the injury and in the ED

Caveats
  • 99% sensitive in children OVER age 5[6]
  • Beware of the Tillaux Fracture in adolescents with anteromedial ankle pain, as they would not qualify for imaging according to this rule.

See Also

References
  1. Bachmann LM, Haberzeth S, Steurer J, et al. The accuracy of the Ottawa knee rule to rule out knee fractures: a systematic review. Ann Intern Med. 2004; 140(2):121-4.
  2. Bulloch B, Neto G, Plint A, et al. Validation of the Ottawa Knee Rule in children: a multicenter study. Ann Emerg Med. 2003; 42(1):48-55.
  3. Stiell IG, Greenberg GH, Wells GA, et al. Derivation of a decision rule for the use of radiography in acute knee injuries. Ann Emerg Med. 1995; 26(4):405-13.
  4. Stiell IG, Greenberg GH, Wells GA, et al. Prospective validation of a decision rule for the use of radiography in acute knee injuries. JAMA. 1996; 275(8):611-615.
  5. Stiell IG, Wells GA, Hoag RH, et al. Implementation of the Ottawa Knee Rule for the use of radiography in acute knee injuries. JAMA. 1997; 278(23):2075-2079.
  6. Vijayasankar D, Boyle AA, Atkinson P. Can the Ottawa knee rule be applied to children? A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Emerg Med J. 2009; 26(4):250-3.
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