• Avni Uygar Seyhan, Rohat Ak, Faruk Şimşek, Senem Ayvacı, and Oğuzhan Açıkgöz.
• Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kırdar City Hospital, İstanbul-Türkiye.
• Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg. 2024 Apr 1; 30 (4): 271275271-275.

BackgroundAnkle injuries are a common reason for visits to the emergency department (ED). An effective diagnosis and treatment process is crucial for the swift recovery of patients and for alleviating congestion in EDs. This study aims to evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of the Ottawa Ankle Rules (OAR) in geriatric patients presenting to the emergency department (ED).MethodsBetween February 2022 and November 2022, 160 patients aged 65 and older (118 women, 42 men) who presented to the ED with isolated ankle injuries were included in the study. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the OAR.ResultsThe study found fractures in 37.5% of patients. The sensitivity of the OAR was 98.33%, the specificity was 86%, the negative predictive value was 98.85%, and the positive predictive value was 80.82%.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that the OAR is highly sensitive in the geriatric population but shows some limitations in terms of specificity and positive predictive value. These results support the effectiveness of using the OAR in evaluating ankle injuries in the geriatric population but also highlight the need for cautious application due to the potential for false-positive outcomes.

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