Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries in the United States and commonly happen during sports and recreational activities. Injuries can result from rolling the ankle, falling on the ankle, or contact injuries from sport. After an ankle injury occurs, one of the first questions asked is; do I need to go to the doctor or get an x-ray? The following blog is a guide for individuals who suffered an acute ankle injury and are unsure if they need an x-ray.
The Ottawa ankle rules: The Ottawa ankle rules are a set of researched guidelines to determine the need for radiographs following injury due to risk of fracture. The rules are as followed;
- Inability to bear weight or take up to 4 steps immediately after injury
- Bone tenderness at the back of the edge of the tibia or fibula ( the ends of our long leg bones at the ankle joint)
- Bone tenderness at the navicular (inside foot bone just beyond the ankle), or base of the 5th metatarsal (the most outside foot longbone)
If you fit one or multiple of these scenarios listed above, then ankle imaging is recommended.
Other scenarios where medial evaluation is recommended:
- Numbness/ loss of sensation that is constant
- Severe constant ankle pain even when non weight bearing
- Severe ankle swelling that does not improve within 1 week
- New feeling of ankle instability/rolling the ankle when walking
- No change/improvement in ankle pain or dysfunction after 1-2 weeks
If you’re someone who suffered an ankle injury and still unsure if you need imaging, seek out an FX physical therapist for a free complimentary injury screen, schedule an appointment today!
Author: Shaun Baldwin, DPT, OCS
