by Stacey Chamberlain
A 28-year-old man presents to the ED with left ankle pain after twisting his ankle playing basketball. He is able to bear weight and notes pain and swelling to the lateral aspect of the ankle (he points to just below the lateral malleolus). He denies weakness, numbness, or tingling and has no other injuries. On exam, he is neurovascularly intact. Edema and tenderness are noted slightly anterior and inferior to the lateral malleolus. There is no point tenderness to the distal posterior malleoli bilaterally.
Should you get an X-ray to rule out fracture?
Ottawa Ankle Rule
Pain in the malleolar zone and any one of the following:
- Bone tenderness along the distal 6 cm of the posterior edge or tip of the tibia (medial malleolus), OR
- Bone tenderness along the distal 6 cm of the posterior edge or tip of the fibula (lateral malleolus), OR
- An inability to bear weight both immediately after the trauma and in the ED for four steps.
Ottawa Foot Rule
Pain in the midfoot zone and any one of the following:
- Bone tenderness at the base of the fifth metatarsal, OR
- Bone tenderness at the navicular bone, OR
- An inability to bear weight both immediately after the trauma and in the ED for four steps.
Case Discussion
In the above case, using either CDR, an X-ray is unnecessary.
Cite this article as: iEM Education Project Team, "A 28-year-old man presents to the ED with left ankle pain," in International Emergency Medicine Education Project, June 10, 2019, https://iem-student.org/2019/06/10/a-28-year-old-man-presents-to-the-ed-with-left-ankle-pain/, date accessed: September 21, 2023
