DR. HARDY OF ACADEMY FOOT AND ORTHOTIC CLINICS SHARES SOME INFORMATION ON THE OTTAWA ANKLE RULES REGARDING X-RAYS

THE OTTAWA ANKLE RULES WERE DEVELOPED IN 1992 BY A GROUP OF DOCTORS IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT OF OTTAWA CIVIC HOSPITAL WHICH ARE A SET OF GUIDELINES FOR THE PHYSICIAN TO REFER TO WHEN HE OR SHE MIGHT WANT TO TAKE AN X-RAY OF THE FOOT OR ANKLE WHEN CONFRONTED WITH A POSSIBLE FRACTURE.  

THE MAIN REASON THAT THEY WERE DEVELOPED WAS TO REDUCE THE USE OF X-RAYS WHEN THEY WERE NOT NECESSARY.  X-RAYS CARRY WITH THEM THE INHERENT RISK OF RADIATION AND WHILE X-RAYS OF THE FOOT USE VERY LOW AMOUNTS OF RADIATION, ESPECIALLY TODAY WITH ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY, REDUCING UNNECESSARY PROCEDURES CUT DOWN ON HEALTH CARE RESOURCES, MONEY AND TIME BY THOSE PERFORMING AND INTERPRETATION THE IMAGES AND REDUCING UNNECESSARY RADIATION TO ALL THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE PROCEDURE.

THEY ARE A SET OF RULES REGARDING PAIN, LOCATION AND INTENSITY IN ORDER TO MAKE AN EDUCATED DECISION WHETHER THERE IS A NEED FOR A RADIOGRAPH.  MY FOOT CLINIC FOLLOWS THESE GUIDLINES WHEN WE CONSIDER WHETHER ONE OF OUR PATIENTS WILL REQUIRE A RADIOGRAPH.

IF YOU OR A LOVED REQUIRES HONEST, COMPETENT ADVICE OR FOOT CARE, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT DR. HARDY, OWNER OF ACADEMY FOOT AND ORTHOTIC CLINICS AT 416-465-8737