Medical Dictionary Online

Fractures, Avulsion

Tearing away of the CORTICAL BONE fragment at the location of a strong ligament or tendon attachment. The bone fragment detachment site often occurs near a soft site (e.g., GROWTH PLATE) at the base where LIGAMENTS; TENDONS; or JOINT CAPSULES attach. In younger patients it is most often caused by a sudden forceful pull on a tendon in the opposite direction of the bone movement. In the elderly it is associated with osteoporotic INSUFFICIENCY FRACTURES.