Final answer:
The Ottawa Ankle Rules are guidelines to determine the need for an x-ray in patients with ankle injuries. They apply when there is pain in specific areas or inability to bear weight and are intended to reduce unnecessary radiographs if evaluated within 48 hours of injury.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Ottawa Ankle Rules are a set of guidelines used by healthcare providers to determine whether a patient with an ankle injury should receive an x-ray to rule out fractures. According to these rules, an ankle radiograph is indicated if there is any pain in the malleolar zone and any one of these signs is present: bone tenderness at the posterior edge of the lateral or medial malleolus, an inability to bear weight immediately after the injury and in the emergency department, or bone tenderness at the base of the fifth metatarsal or the navicular bone. These rules are designed to reduce unnecessary radiographs and are applicable to patients who present within 48 hours of the injury.