Jack Casey, HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Page 1
Jack Casey, HMS IV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Radiographic Evaluation of
Blunt Ankle Trauma
Jack Casey, HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Page 2
Overview
• Importance of ankle injuries
• Imaging– when, how, and what to look for
• Anatomy review
• Common ankle injuries
– Patient cases to illustrate mechanisms of injury and
radiologic classification
Focus on radiology
Jack Casey, HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Page 3
Historical Context
Jack Casey, HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Page 4
Blunt Ankle Trauma
– Still A Major Problem
• Most common MSK injury
• Less that 15% of patients have clinically
significant fractures
• Ankle films are 3rd most common radiologic study
ordered in many hospitals
• > $500 million spent annually on ankle
radiographs in North America
• Clinical guidelines can help guide management
Steill et al. JAMA, 1993.
Jack Casey, HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Page 5
Indications for Imaging
The Ottawa Ankle Rules
• Set of clinical guidelines, designed to have
sensitivity of 100% for detecting fractures s/p
blunt ankle trauma.
– willing to accept trade-off of lower specificity
• Expected benefits: Limit radiation exposure,
health care costs, ED waiting time.
• Designed to be easy to use
Jack Casey, HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Page 6
Ottawa Ankle Rules
- The basics
Ankle x-ray series is only
necessary if there is pain
near the malleoli and any
of these findings:
1. Inability to bear weight
both immediately and in
the ED (four steps)
2. Bone tenderness at
posterior edge or tip of
medial or lateral
malleoli.
www.aafp.org/afp/20020901/785.html
Jack Casey, HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Page 7
Ottawa Ankle Rules
- The basics
Foot x-ray series is only
necessary if there is pain
in the mid-foot and any of
these findings:
• Inability to bear weight
both immediately and in
the ED (four steps)
2. Bone tenderness at base of
fifth metatarsal or the
navicular.
www.aafp.org/afp/20020901/785.html
Jack Casey, HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Page 8
Ottawa Ankle Rules
- How good are they?
• Systemic review of 27 studies (15,581 patients)
– Sensitivity 96.4 - 99.6 %
– Specificity varied widely (10-79%)
– Less than 2% of patients who were negative for fx according to
ankle rules actually had a fracture.
– Missed fractures were almost always minor, did not affect long
term outcomes.
• 28% reduction in use of ankle radiography
• No decrease in patient satisfaction
Bachmann et al. BMJ, 2003.
Steill et al. JAMA, 1993.
Jack Casey, HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Page 9
Ottawa Ankle Rules
- A few limitations
• Not applicable to:
– <18 y/o
– Altered mental status
– Multi-system trauma
– Chronic/ subacute injuries
• Always trust clinical judgment
Jack Casey, HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Page 10
Implementing the OAR
• Thorough (but brief) H+P
¾Evaluate skin/ soft tissue. Assess for open fx.
¾Check and document neurovascular status
¾Palpate entire distal 6 cm of both malleoli before asking
patient to bear weight
¾Palpate over 5th metatarsal and navicular for tenderness
¾Palpate for tenderness over proximal fibula to exclude
potential Maisonneuve fracture
• Think about underlying anatomy and mechanism
of injury
Jack Casey, HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Page 11
Basic Anatomy 1- Bones
Interactive
Foot and
Ankle. Primal
Pictures, Ltc.
Anterior Process
of Calcaneus
Jack Casey, HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Page 12
Basic Anatomy 2- Ligaments
Greenspan, Orthopedic Radiology
THREE principal sets of
ligaments support the
ankle, all of which are
essential to its stability.
Jack Casey, HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Page 13
Basic Anatomy 3- Tendons
Greenspan,
Orthopedic
Radiology
Jack Casey, HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Page 14
Anatomy- Putting it All Together
Bones and
connective
tissue give
rise to ring-
like
structure
surrounding
the talus.
Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical
Practice.
Jack Casey, HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Page 15
Ankle Injuries-Inversion
Greenspan, Orthopedic Radiology
Remember Ring-
Like Structure in
Conceptualizing
Injury.
www.emedicinehealth.com
Jack Casey, HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Page 16
Ankle Injuries- Eversion
Greenspan, Orthopedic Radiology
Remember Ring-
Like Structure in
Conceptualizing
Injury.
www.x-strap.com
Jack Casey, HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Page 17
Appropriate Views
• Must always include:
1) AP
2) Mortise (ankle in 10 - 25 degrees of internal rotation)
3) Lateral
• May add additional views in questionable
cases (i.e. stress views, comparison views
with uninjured ankle)
Jack Casey, HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Page 18
Regions of Interest
• Bones of ankle joint
• The fifth metatarsal tuberosity should be
seen in at least one projection.
• Important to visualize anterior process of
the calcaneus.
Jack Casey, HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Page 19
Normal AP Radiograph
www.rad.washington.edu
Jack Casey, HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Page 20
Normal Mortise Radiograph
www.rad.washington.edu
Foot internally rotated 10-
35 degrees to allow for
improved visualization of
the mortise.
Jack Casey, HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Page 21
AP vs. Mortise Views
AP Mortise
Images from Greenspan, Orthopedic Radiology
Jack Casey, HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Page 22
Normal Lateral Radiograph
Note: ROI not
fully included (5th
metatarsal absent)
www.rad.washington.edu
Jack Casey, HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Page 23
Classifying Fractures
• Anatomic
• Weber (AO)
• Other
Jack Casey, HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Page 24
Anatomic Classification of Fx
Identifying additional sites of
fracture is not just an
academic exercise– as bi/tri
malleolar fx usually require
othopedics eval, surgical
management.
Greenspan,
Orthopedic
Radiology
Jack Casey, HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Page 25
Unimalleolar Fx
Patient 1–
s/p eversion
injury, fall
from 10 feet
Small fx,
medial
malleolus
Also note
dislocation
talus
Image from BIDMC PACS
Jack Casey, HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Page 26
Bimalleolar Fx
Patient 2-
“Fall with ankle
inversion. Please
r/o fracture”
Images from BIDMC PACS
Mortise View AP view
Jack Casey, HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Page 27
Trimalleolar Fx
Patient 3-
“Eversion
injury. r/o fx”
(ED films)
Images from BIDMC PACS
Jack Casey, HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Page 28
Trimalleolar Fx ORIF
Images from BIDMC PACS
Patient 3
(Intra-op)
Jack Casey, HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Page 29
Weber Classification of Fx
• Based on the level of fibular fracture
• Used to determine extent of syndesmotic
injury. A