Avulsion fracture
Also called: tendon pull fracture
What it means
An avulsion fracture is when a small piece of bone gets pulled off by a tendon or ligament that's attached to it, usually from a sudden, forceful movement.
Weaker, more brittle bone can make these pull-off injuries more likely or more serious, so knowing your bone strength matters.
An avulsion fracture happens when a tendon or ligament pulls so hard on a bone that it tears away a small piece of the bone at the attachment point, instead of the soft tissue itself tearing. It's essentially the bone losing a tug-of-war with its own connective tissue during a sudden, forceful movement.
These fractures are more common in younger, athletic people during sports, especially at growth plates before bones are fully mature, but older adults can get them too, particularly around the hip, ankle, or elbow after a fall, awkward twist, or sudden muscle contraction. Weaker bone from osteoporosis may make a bone more prone to this kind of injury.
Treatment depends on the size of the fragment and how much it has shifted. Small avulsion fractures often heal with rest, bracing, or a cast, while larger or displaced fragments sometimes need surgery to reattach the bone piece. Your doctor or orthopedic surgeon will guide the right approach based on imaging and your specific injury.
Brittle bone can make sudden tendon or ligament pulls more likely to tear off a piece of bone.
Where this leads
WordWondering about a different kind of bone injury? Stress fractures form from repeated strain over time rather than one sudden pull.
Related words
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Education only, not medical advice. Decisions about tests, medications and treatment belong with your own doctor. OsteoStrong does not diagnose, treat or cure any disease.
