When do I need an x-ray?

Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries in athletes and the general population. Why? various reasons, personally I feel that since the ankle joint is one the most unstable joints in the body it is highly susceptible to injury. So how do you know if your ankle sprain needs to be seen to?

As therapists, we don’t order imaging unnecessarily for different reasons, overload in the healthcare system and emergency rooms, exposure to radiation, costs to the health system, etc etc. And as such, the Ottawa Ankle Rules were developed. There are some groups of people that these rules don’t apply to, including pregnant women, those who can’t perform the testing such as those with diminished cognitive function, and under the ages of 6 years of age.

If you have any one of these signs you require an ankle x-ray:

1) Boney tenderness along the distal 6 cm of the posterior edge of the tibia or tip of the medial malleolus, or

2) Boney tenderness along the distal 6 cm of the posterior edge of the fibula or tip of the lateral malleolus, or

3) Are unable to weight bear for four steps.

For a foot:

If There is any pain in the midfoot zone; and any one of these:

1) Boney tenderness at the base of the 5th metatarsal, or

2) Boney tenderness of the navicular, or

3 unable to weight bear four steps

Ankle sprains are a physiotherapists bread and butter, and if you’re not sure, give us a call and we can discuss your symptoms over the phone.

Happy Monday

Sam and Andy