Ottawa Knee Rules

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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

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

  1. Age >55
  2. Isolated tenderness of the patella (no other bony tenderness).
  3. Tenderness at the fibular head.
  4. Inability flex to 90 degrees
  5. Inability to walk 4 steps BOTH immediately after the injury and in the ED

Diagram

Ottawa-Knee.jpg

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.

External Links

MDCalc - Ottawa Knee Rules

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.