Application of the Ottawa Protocol by Medical Students and Orthopedic Residents on Ankle Sprains at a Trauma Hospital.

To verify the applicability and agreement of the Ottawa ankle rules applied by medical students and orthopedic residents in a tertiary trauma service thus validating the Ottawa protocol for use on Brazilian soil.  This was a prospective study, conducted in a tertiary hospital, including all patients with acute torsial trauma of the tibiotarsal joint. The patients underwent ankle and/or foot radiographs, and the questionnaire with the Ottawa ankle rules was applied by academics and, subsequently, by residents. The radiographs were evaluated by on-call orthopedists and specialist in foot and ankle, and the expert opinion was considered the gold standard for analysis.  Two hundred and sixty-three patients were evaluated, and, after application of the established inclusion criteria, 226 cases remained for evaluation. The sensitivity to detect lesions and negative predictive value (NPV) was 100%. The most sensitive test with higher NPV for both academics and residents was palpation of the lateral malleolus. The study presented potential for a reduction of 30% in the total number of tests requested.  The data showed applicability and agreement between academics and residents, which allows for the validation of the Ottawa protocol in emergency care in Brazil.