Avulsion Fracture Complete list of fracture information Avulsion Fracture picture Avulsion Fracture An avulsion fracture occurs when an injury causes a ligament or tendon to tear off (avulse) a small piece of a bone to which it's attached. The injury may be due to direct trauma, such as a hard tackle in football, or indirect trauma, such as an aggressive pivot in soccer or basketball. This type of fracture can also be associated with serious injury to the involved ligament or tendon. Small avulsion fractures don't need surgery or casting. Treatment typically is with ice and rest. Small avulsions rarely cause any problems after the injury heals. The avulsion may still be visible on an X-ray. But it usually doesn't cause any pain or discomfort. If the bone fragment is large and widely separated from the bone and is associated with significant tendon or ligament detachment, treatment may include surgical reattachment. In young children, avulsions that occur on a growth plate also may require surgery. Talk to your doctor about what the best treatment is for your specific injury.

Avulsion Fracture Symptoms

• Swelling and pain on the fractured area
• Tenderness and severe pain when touched
• Painful and difficulty in walking if it occur on foot or knee
• Bruising may occur

Diagnosis of an avulsion fracture

• Severe pain  and there is often a swelling in the region of the fracture.
• The patient is unable to move that part of the body and normally yelps in pain if forced to do so.
• Normally, diagnosis can easily be made with the help of an X-ray. The X-ray will show a part of the bone or a bony fragment that is detached or displaced at a variable distance from the parent bone.
• Where the X-ray may not be conclusive enough, an ultrasound might be of help.
• The best way of knowing the exact site and severity of the fracture though, is with the help of an MRI. This is quite helpful as it will not only aid in knowing the site and severity of the fracture, but will also completely eliminate the possibility of a misdiagnosis.

Treatment of an avulsion fracture

The usual treatment for a small avulsion fracture includes icing and resting the affected area. A small avulsion fracture rarely causes any problems after the injury heals — although it may still be visible on X-ray. The main exceptions are injuries resulting in serious tendon or ligament damage along with an avulsion fracture. In these cases, surgery may be needed to reattach the bone. In children, avulsion fractures that occur on a growth plate may also require surgery.