Ottawa Knee Rules
PURPOSE: To determine if radiographs are needed after knee trauma
TECHNIQUE: [1] Radiographs should be ordered if one of the following is present
Age > 55 years
Isolated patellar tenderness without other bone tenderness
Tenderness of the fibular head
Inability to flex the knee > 90 degrees
Inability to bear weight immediately after injury and in the emergency department (4 steps) regardless of limping.
EVIDENCE[1]:
Sensitivity= 1.0 -LR= 0
Specificity= .49-.56 +LR = 1.9-2.3
RESOURCES:
RESEARCH: Eur Radiol. 2002 May;12(5): 1218-20 Epub 2001 Nov 14.
REFERENCES
1. Flynn T, Cleland J, Whitman J. Users Guide to Musculoskeletal Examination: Fundamentals for the Evidence Based Clinician: Evidence in Motion; 2008.
