Ring avulsion happens when a ring worn on a finger is suddenly and forcefully pulled, causing severe damage to the soft tissues and bone of the finger.
Ring avulsion injuries are serious injuries that often result in amputation. Here's a more detailed breakdown of how they occur:
- Sudden Force: The primary cause is a sudden and significant force applied to a ring.
- Entrapment: The ring gets caught on an object, and when the person tries to pull away or the object moves away, the force is concentrated on the finger.
- Tearing: This force tears away the skin, tendons, nerves, blood vessels, and sometimes even the bone of the finger. The extent of the damage depends on the force applied and the duration of the entrapment.
Common Scenarios:
- Workplace Accidents: Rings getting caught on machinery or equipment.
- Falls: A ring getting caught on a fence, railing, or other object during a fall.
- Sports Injuries: Rings becoming entangled during sporting activities.
Severity Levels: Ring avulsion injuries are classified based on their severity, often using the Urbaniak classification:
| Classification | Description |
|---|---|
| Class I | Circulation is adequate. |
| Class II | Circulation is inadequate, but arterial repair is possible. |
| Class III | Complete degloving or amputation; arterial repair is usually not possible, requiring amputation or replantation. |
In essence, ring avulsion happens when a ring acts as a point of concentrated force, causing a traumatic injury to the finger when forcefully snagged.
