X-rays for Acute Knee Injuries: Pre- and Post- Pittsburgh Decision Rules Implementation. A District General Hospital Experience.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: We wanted to assess the number of unnecessary radiographs done for acute knee injury patients and the accuracy of the Pittsburgh decision rules. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective observational study was done to look at the acute knee injury patients presented to a district general hospital Accident and Emergency Department from August 2011 till August 2013. We assessed the following parameters sex, age, mechanism of injury, weight-bearing status and incidence of fractures in patients subjected to plain radiograph. A prospective study was then done from April 2014- August 2014 following implementation of the Pittsburgh decision rules. RESULTS: 24% of the patients had knee X-ray, compared to 72.12% in the first cycle. 36.8% had fracture, compared to 6.1% first cycle, with 66.7 % reduction in x-rays. Pittsburgh decision rules sensitivity was 100% and specificity 85.3%, positive predictive value 45.8% and accuracy 87%. CONCLUSIONS: 1. The Pittsburgh decision rules is highly sensitive, specific and accurate in determining the need of X-ray in acute knee Injuries. 2. We found that the Pittsburgh decision rules performs well in our hospital, which coincides with previously published literature.