A heel avulsion is a type of fracture where a piece of bone is pulled away from the main part of the heel bone (calcaneus) due to a strong contraction of the muscles in the calf.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
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The Mechanism: Heel avulsions are usually caused by the sudden, forceful contraction of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles (the calf muscles). These muscles connect to the heel bone via the Achilles tendon. When these muscles contract powerfully, such as during a jump or sudden push-off, the force can be strong enough to pull off a piece of the bone where the tendon attaches.
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What Happens: This results in a small fragment of bone being separated (avulsed) from the calcaneus. The severity can vary; sometimes it's a tiny chip, other times a larger piece of bone detaches.
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Potential Complications: If the displaced bone fragment significantly moves, it can potentially compromise the skin covering the back of the heel, increasing the risk of skin breakdown.
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Treatment: Treatment typically involves reducing the fracture (putting the bone back into its correct position) and stabilizing it to allow healing. This may require surgery with fixation (e.g., screws or plates). Following surgery, rehabilitation is crucial to restore strength and range of motion.
