S. Tigges et al., External validation of the Ottawa knee rules in an urban trauma center in the United States, AM J ROENTG, 172(4), 1999, pp. 1069-1071
Citations number
6
Categorie Soggetti
Radiology ,Nuclear Medicine & Imaging","Medical Research Diagnosis & Treatment
OBJECTIVE. We evaluated the Ottawa knee rules in a high-volume teaching hos
pital in the United States to determine whether the rules could be safely u
sed to decide whether patients with acute blunt knee trauma should undergo
radiography,
SUBJECTS AND METHODS. During a 13-month period, 378 patients with acute blu
nt knee trauma were prospectively examined using the Ottawa knee rules. Dat
a collected included the presence or absence of fracture predictors and the
results of radiography.
RESULTS, A fracture was seen in 43 (11%) of the 378 patients who met inclus
ion criteria. The knee rules predicted 42 of the 43 fractures; sensitivity
was 98%, and specificity was 19%. Radiography of 65 patients (17%) who had
no predictors for fracture could have been avoided if the knee rules had be
en used to screen for radiography.
CONCLUSION. The Ottawa knee rules are highly sensitive for fracture in this
setting and may safely be used to decide whether patients with acute blunt
knee trauma should undergo radiography.