'Serious blow' for the English camp after Atkinson is forced off suffering a hamstring problem.
The English seamer added to England's injury problems after leaving the playing area on the second morning of the Boxing Day Test in the Ashes series.
Atkinson pulled up with his left hamstring after the final ball that he bowled at the MCG.
Team management stated Atkinson had experienced "tightness" and would spend time away from the action to undergo evaluation "in the coming hours".
The final Test of the series beginning on 4 January begins on Sunday, 4 January.
The visitors have been without fast bowlers one seamer to a knee injury and another paceman with an abdominal strain during this series.
Matthew Fisher was brought into the squad as injury reinforcement.
His form was underwhelming during the first two matches, claiming a mere three wickets.
He was dropped of the third Test, then recalled for the Melbourne Test to fill the void.
Surrey's Atkinson improved at the MCG, taking two wickets during the host's first knock, before adding 28 with the bat among just a trio of England players who passed ten runs.
Following a brief spell in Australia's second innings, he resumed the next day and dismissed the nightwatchman taken by the wicketkeeper.
However, on the final ball of that over, he sent down a slower ball to the batsman and promptly felt his left hamstring.
The English bowler was recalled for the Boxing Day Test after being left out the previous Test.