Ottawa knee rule

Introduction

Rule used to determine need for radiographs for patients with knee injury.

An knee radiographic series is needed with:

• age 55 years or older:
• isolated patellar tenderness
• fibular head tenderness
• inability to flex the knee to 90 degrees
• inability to bear weight immediately after the injury & for 4 steps in the emergency department

Sensitivity: 98.5% for detecting fractures

Specificity: 49%

More general terms

• Ottawa rules

Additional terms

• knee injury, traumatic
• knee pain