Ultrasound-assisted triage of ankle trauma can decrease the need for radiographic imaging.

BACKGROUND: An ankle sprain is a common injury, and patients are usually examined with plain radiographs to rule out a fracture despite the fact that only a small minority actually have one.

PURPOSE: To investigate if ultrasound (US)-guided triage can decrease the need for radiographic imaging in patients with ankle trauma.

HYPOTHESIS: Orthopedic surgeons can use point-of-care US with limited training to triage ankle trauma that requires standard radiographs.

METHODS: Seven junior orthopedic surgeons underwent a 30-minute standardized training session using a basic US musculoskeletal examination designed to exclude ankle fractures. One-hundred twenty-two patients with ankle trauma were included at the emergency department and underwent clinical investigation, including examination according to the Ottawa ankle rules as well as US and standard ankle radiographs. In this study group, radiographs identified 23 significant fractures. Ultrasound-guided triage could not exclude a fracture in 37 patients. All of the 23 fractures seen on radiographs were among the 37 patients where US could not rule out a fracture. Ottawa ankle rules managed to exclude the need for radiographs in 28 of the 122 patients, whereas 85 who underwent the US-guided triage could have avoided a radiograph. Avulsion fractures at the tip of the fibula were not considered significant.

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that with limited standardized training a junior, an orthopedic surgeon is able to use US-guided triage during the primary examination at the emergency department to exclude at least significant ankle fractures. This practice could decrease the need for radiographic imaging, avoiding a mandatory radiographic investigation in many patients with ankle trauma. It would also make it possible to treat many patients with ankle trauma more rapidly and to reduce costs and radiation exposure.