Final answer:
The Ottawa ankle rules are guidelines to help determine if X-rays are necessary for ankle and foot injuries, aiming to minimize unnecessary imaging by assessing tenderness and weight-bearing capability.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Ottawa ankle rules are a set of guidelines used in medicine to help determine the need for radiographic imaging (X-rays) in case of ankle and foot injuries. The rules are intended to reduce unnecessary X-rays and are based on the presence of tenderness in specific areas and the patient's ability to bear weight immediately after the injury and for a few steps in the emergency department or doctor's office. According to the Ottawa ankle rules, an X-ray is only required if there is any pain in the malleolar or midfoot zone and any one of these findings: bone tenderness at the lateral or medial malleolus, bone tenderness at the base of the fifth metatarsal, bone tenderness at the navicular, or an inability to bear weight both immediately and in the emergency department for four steps.