- With Mayo Clinic physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist
Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.
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Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.
Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.
Dr. Edward Laskowski is certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine. He is co-director of the Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center and a professor at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.
He has been on the staff of Mayo Clinic since 1990 and specializes in sports medicine, fitness, strength training and stability training. He works with a multidisciplinary team of physical medicine, rehabilitation and orthopedic specialists, physical therapists and sports psychologists.
Dr. Laskowski is an elite-level skier and approaches sports medicine from the perspective of a physician and an athlete. In addition to skiing, he is an avid hiker, cyclist and climber.
In 2006, President George W. Bush appointed Dr. Laskowski to a two-year term on the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
Dr. Laskowski was a member of the medical staff of the Olympic Polyclinic at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and was involved in medical coverage for the Chicago Marathon. He serves as a consulting physician to the National Hockey League Players' Association and is a featured lecturer at the American College of Sports Medicine's Team Physician Course.
Dr. Laskowski, a Cary, Ill., native, has contributed to Mayo Clinic's CD-ROM on sports, health and fitness, a Web site guide to self-care, and hundreds of Mayo Clinic articles and booklets in print and online. He is a contributing editor to Mayo Clinic's "Fitness for EveryBody" book.
"There are many myths and misconceptions about exercise and fitness in general, and also many traditions that don't stand up to scientific scrutiny," he says. "My goal is to provide the most up-to-date and accurate information on sports medicine and fitness topics in a way that you can practically incorporate into your life."
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Question
Avulsion fracture: How is it treated?
What is the best way to treat an avulsion fracture?
Answer
from Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.
An avulsion fracture, which occurs when a ligament or tendon attached to a bone pulls away a piece (fragment) of the bone, typically heals well without surgery. The main exceptions are injuries resulting in serious tendon or ligament damage along with an avulsion fracture. In these cases, surgery may be needed to reattach the bone. In children, avulsion fractures that occur on a growth plate may also require surgery.
The usual treatment for a small avulsion fracture includes icing and resting the affected area. A small avulsion fracture rarely causes any problems after the injury heals — although it may still be visible on X-ray.
Talk to your doctor about the best treatment for your specific injury.
- Nuccion SL et al. Chapter 25 - Hip and pelvis. In: DeLee JC et al, Eds. DeLee and Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.:Saunders. 2003.
- Stanitsky SL. Chapter 17 — Special considerations in the pediatric and adolescent athlete. In: DeLee JC et al, Eds. DeLee and Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.:Saunders. 2003.
- Bui-Mansfield LC et al. Humeral avulsions of the glenohumeral ligament: Imaging features and a review of the literature. American Journal of Roentgenology. 2002; 179:649-655.
- Rab GT. Chapter 11 — Pediatric orthopedic surgery. In: Skinner H, Ed. Current Diagnosis & Treatment in Orthopedics. 4th Edition. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies. 2006.
