What Is Ring Avulsion? Everything You Need to Know
Many people have never heard of ring avulsion or degloving unless they work in an emergency room or as an occupational safety specialist. To be fair, these injuries account for only 5% of arm and hand emergency room visits.
However, when they do occur, things can get serious quickly. Ask Jimmy Fallon, who in 2015 had a ring avulsion injury (don’t worry, his retelling isn’t graphic). His injury required six hours of microsurgery on one of his fingers. Note to the squeamish: Do NOT Google images of ring avulsions.
What Is Ring Avulsion?
A ring avulsion or a degloving occurs when a traditional metal or stone ring gets caught on something and the ring’s edges cut into the finger, potentially stripping it of flesh and muscle tissue.
Generally, there are three classes of ring avulsion:
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Class I: This refers to when blood can still easily flow through the hand and the injured finger, and/or the injury is only to the fingertip area. Class I ring avulsion issues can usually be managed with basic cleaning and bandaging.
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Class II: In this class, blood can no longer flow properly to the fingertip, and there is a chance of more severe injuries like partial or total degloving. In cases where a ring has caused a Class II avulsion injury, surgery may be necessary.
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Class III: The most severe type of ring avulsion is when the finger is stripped of some level of tissue, if not entirely torn off. This often requires both surgery and follow-up care, such as skin grafts.
In many cases, amputation of the finger becomes necessary. Fallon noted that he was quite lucky: Doctors could save his finger. Many people are not so fortunate and may have to adjust to life without one of their fingers.
Who Is at Risk of Ring Avulsion?
While anyone who wears a traditional metal ring is technically at risk of ring avulsion, it's a relatively rare occurrence. However, wearing a metal ring regularly can result in much higher risk for certain groups, such as:
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Firefighters, paramedics, or first responders: When firefighters or other first responders work, they may need to remove their gloves quickly. If they're not careful, their rings can get caught on the gloves and cause serious avulsion injuries.
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Construction workers, tradespeople, or hands-on professionals: Anyone who works with their hands is at a higher risk for ring avulsion, as there’s always the possibility that a ring may get snagged on something. One Redditor shared that their dad’s ring got caught in a machine, and he lost the tip of his finger due to his ring.
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Those with certain medical conditions: Arthritis, for example, can cause fingers to swell unexpectedly. If this occurs while wearing a metal ring, it can act as a tourniquet and cause serious avulsion issues when trying to remove the ring.
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Athletes: No matter the activity, athletes are at high risk of ring avulsion and degloving. Handling equipment like a baseball bat or a basketball with a metal ring can cause the ring to twist and result in injury.
A True Ring Avulsion Story
“I love basketball and have been playing for many years. The first time I ever dunked a ball, I was in eighth grade. Five years later, after completing my church mission in rural Tennessee, we celebrated by playing basketball with some of the other missionaries.
“I don't remember very much about that day until the game point of our final game. I had crossed over one of the other missionaries and had a wide-open lane to the hoop. I jumped up and thought, I'm going to slam this one down. It had been a while since I had dunked a ball.
“I was wearing a stainless steel “Choose the Right” ring, and out of pure laziness or maybe forgetfulness, I hadn't taken it off to play basketball. When I went up for the dunk, everything was normal. I slammed the ball down.
“As I came down, I remember thinking something was really, really wrong.
“My ring had caught the edge of the hoop and seriously injured my finger. What followed was a series of events that went from injuring my hand playing basketball to having my finger amputated. The doctor came in to look at it and told me straight out that because they were a small, regional medical center, there wasn’t anything they could do for me.
“I ended up being transferred to a larger hospital, but by that point, it was too late. My finger had to be amputated.
“Looking back on it now, I realize that if I had something besides my stainless steel ring on, they may have been able to do something. The ring was stuck on my middle knuckle, which meant they had to saw the ring off.
“It took a long time to do this before they could transport me, and in the end, they weren't able to save my finger. What I hope others take away from my story is that if you are wearing a stainless steel, tungsten, titanium, or even a gold ring, there are better, safer options available.
“I'm married now, and I wear an Enso Ring every day. It's been a game-changer for me in that I can wear a ring, and I'm not worried about it at all. If I had something like this back then, my story would have turned out a lot differently.” - Submitted by Allen Beck, Enso Customer
Do Silicone Rings Prevent Ring Avulsions?
Silicone rings have been proven to prevent ring avulsion injuries. Here are some of the ways they help prevent them:
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Less likely to catch in the first place: Silicone rings are much less likely to catch and cause avulsion injuries in the first place. Their pliability compared to metal rings and the fact that they're often smoother overall make them safer for active ring wearers. While a traditional ring will have metal and a jagged, protruding stone that can snag on things, a silicone ring's smooth exterior is much less likely to get caught.
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Automatic breaking: Handcrafted silicone rings are specifically designed to break off if they become snagged. This is thanks to a built-in breaking point designed to give way under too much pressure rather than cause an avulsion injury.
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Easy to remove: If you're worried about avulsion, even with a silicone ring, you can easily remove it and place it in a pocket. Metal rings can be difficult and dangerous to remove quickly if you think avulsion may be a risk.
Additional Reading: Are Silicone Rings Safer Than Metal Rings?
How to Choose a Great Silicone Ring
If you’ve decided to try silicone rings to help prevent potential avulsion injuries, there are a few things you'll want to keep in mind when choosing one:
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Quality: Cheaper silicone rings may not have the same durability level and comfort features, so it’s important to choose wisely.
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Style: Pick a ring that comes in a style you love. Just because silicone rings are a more practical choice doesn’t mean they have to be boring!
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Safety: Make sure the silicone ring you choose has a built-in breaking feature so it will break if caught on something.
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Size: Pick a brand that offers various sizes so you can find the right fit. Stretchiness can also help with size. A little stretch in the ring can fit in-between sizes.
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Comfort: Ensure comfort by choosing a ring with etchings on its interior. These etchings allow for easier airflow. Without it, sweat can build up and become uncomfortable.
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Warranty: Accidents happen, and choosing a ring with a product warranty offers extra peace of mind.
We offer a wide variety of colors and styles to choose from, so you’re sure to find something ideal for your needs.
Find a Perfect (and Safe) Ring Today!
In the Reddit thread mentioned above, another Redditor shared that her husband wears a silicone ring for safety and because of his large knuckles, and he loves it. Why not experience the ease and style of a silicone ring yourself? Protect yourself or your loved ones from ring avulsion with a silicone ring.
You can even get rings that look like metal without the danger!