Avulsion injury

Updated: 2024-01-10

Description

An injury in which tissue, usually bone or soft tissue, is torn away from its attachment.

Overview

Avulsion injury happens when a body part tears away from where it's attached to the body. A small part of bone can tear away from the main part of the bone. A tendon can tear from where it joins a bone.

Symptoms

Symptoms depend on where the injury is located. Symptoms may include pain, swelling, bleeding or difficulty moving the injured body part.

Treatments

Most avulsions can heal without surgery. But sometimes, surgery might be needed to repair nerve damage, restore blood flow or reattach the injured body part. Rarely, the part that's been pulled away might need to be removed with surgery.