Which statement describes the Ottawa Ankle Rules for deciding when radiographs are indicated?

Which statement describes the Ottawa Ankle Rules for deciding when radiographs are indicated?

• A. Tenderness along the posterior region of either malleolus
• B. Inability to bear weight for at least 4 steps
• C. Swelling alone is sufficient for radiographs
• D. Pain without tenderness warrants radiographs

Answer: (A)

The Ottawa Ankle Rules are a practical guide to decide when ankle radiographs are needed after an acute injury. The essential idea is that fracture risk shows up as specific signs you can pick up on exam, not just swelling or vague pain. Tenderness at the posterior edge or tip of the malleolus signals a potential fracture in the ankle, so getting X-rays is indicated to confirm or exclude a fracture. Swelling by itself doesn’t prove a fracture, and pain without pointed tenderness isn’t enough to justify imaging. (In the full rule, an inability to bear weight for four steps is another classic criterion for obtaining imaging.) So tenderness in the malleolar region directly targets a probable fracture location, making it the best single cue among the statements for deciding radiographs.

The Ottawa Ankle Rules are a practical guide to decide when ankle radiographs are needed after an acute injury. The essential idea is that fracture risk shows up as specific signs you can pick up on exam, not just swelling or vague pain. Tenderness at the posterior edge or tip of the malleolus signals a potential fracture in the ankle, so getting X-rays is indicated to confirm or exclude a fracture. Swelling by itself doesn’t prove a fracture, and pain without pointed tenderness isn’t enough to justify imaging. (In the full rule, an inability to bear weight for four steps is another classic criterion for obtaining imaging.) So tenderness in the malleolar region directly targets a probable fracture location, making it the best single cue among the statements for deciding radiographs.