An avulsion fracture is where a tendon or ligament tears off a bone, taking a fragment of the bone away with it.
Page updated December 2023 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)
What is the importance of an avulsion fracture?"
The bony fragment of an avulsion fracture may be easily missed on X-ray. Common avulsions include tibial tubercle avulsion and tibial spine avulsion.
How is an avulsion fracture treated?"
Most avulsion fractures will heal if the knee is immobilised and rested. Where healing does not occur, the bone fragment may be reattached with a staple.
Quick links
Peer-reviewed papers
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Quote:
"Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) avulsion fractures....result in significant disability if left untreated....[and] are caused by forceful hyperextension of the knee or by a direct blow over distal end of femur with the knee flexed."
Citation: Sundararajan SR, Rajasekaran S, Bernard SL. Displaced anterior cruciate ligament avulsion fractures: Arthroscopic staple fixation. Indian J Orthop. 2011 Jul;45(4):324-9. doi: 10.4103/0019-5413.82336. PMID: 21772625; PMCID: PMC3134017.
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Quote:
"PCL [posterior cruciate ligament] avulsion fractures are rare injuries that can lead to significant morbidity when not recognized and treated properly"
Citation: Katsman A, Strauss EJ, Campbell KA, Alaia MJ. Posterior Cruciate Ligament Avulsion Fractures. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2018 Sep;11(3):503-509. doi: 10.1007/s12178-018-9491-2. PMID: 29869136; PMCID: PMC6105473..