Section 1

For Health Professionals

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For Consumers

Imaging plays an important role in modern medicine. Modern imaging techniques – including X-rays, ultrasound, CT scans and MRI – can show structures inside your body in great detail.

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Acute Ankle and Knee Injuries

Insights

Key points

  • Patient history and physical examination are as accurate as imaging for diagnosing acute ankle and knee injuries.
  • Apply the Ottawa Ankle Rules or Ottawa Knee Rules to rule out fracture.
  • Only consider imaging if the results will change your management of the injury
  • Conservative management is based on RICE and no HARM in the first days after injury.
  • If physical examination is limited because of pain and swelling, provide conservative management and re-evaluate 4 days after injury for ankle sprains (lateral ligament) and 1–2 weeks after injury for ACL tears.
  • Consider referral to an orthopedic specialist if symptoms persist, despite conservative management.

Section 3

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Section 5