Severe snowboarding injuries

doi:10.1016/0020-1383(95)00085-N

Injury

Volume 26, Issue 8, October 1995, Pages 539-542

https://doi.org/10.1016/0020-1383(95)00085-N Get rights and content

Abstract

Thirty-seven consecutive patients with severe snowboard-related injuries (defined by referral to a Level I trauma centre) were reviewed. The type and mechanism of each injury were examined and found to be similar to those reported for skiers. Mild closed head injuries were common (54 per cent). Head and abdominal injuries were more common among snowboarders than skiers, but chest and skeletal injuries were rare. There were no deaths, Serious snowboarding injury rates were similar to those for serious skiing injuries. The incidence of snowboarding injuries sufficiently severe to require tertiary referral was estimated at 0.03 injuries/1000 snowboarder days. Similar to reports of minor snowboarding injury, these data indicate that injury patterns in more serious snowboarding accidents are quite different from those of serious downhill skiing accidents. Injured snowboarders suffer splenic injuries more often and chest and spinal injuries less often than do skiers, and should be evaluated for blunt injuries with these statistical differences in mind.

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Cited by (90)

Ski and Snowboard - Related Orthopedic Injuries
2020, Orthopedic Clinics of North America
Citation Excerpt :
Snowboarding participants are at higher risk of wrist, shoulder, and clavicle injuries than skiers.3,22,23,25 With regards to injuries of the spinal column, overall injury rates appear to be higher among skiers when compared with snowboarders.26–28 Prior studies demonstrate that the lumbar spine is more commonly injured during snowboarding when compared with spinal injuries sustained while skiing.
Impact of Prehospital Transportation on Survival in Skiers and Snowboarders with Traumatic Brain Injury
2017, World Neurosurgery
Citation Excerpt :
These huge economic estimates, however, are dwarfed by the medical expenses that ensue as a result of serious injuries, such as those to the head.2-5 Traumatic brain injury (TBI) secondary to falls from skis or a snowboard or collision with other riders or trees is the most common cause for hospitalization and the leading cause for mortality in snow sports,2-7 constituting approximately one fifth of all ski- or snowboarding-related injuries.8-11 These result from a blunt or penetrating trauma or admix of forces involved in sudden acceleration or deceleration.
Prehospital helicopter use and its impact on outcomes in snowboarders and skiers incurring traumatic brain injury (TBI) is unknown. The present study investigates the association of helicopter transport with survival of snowboarders and skiers with TBI, in comparison with ground emergency medical services (EMS), by using data derived from the National Trauma Data Bank (2007–2014).
Primary and secondary endpoints were defined as in-hospital survival and absolute risk reduction based upon number needed to transport (treat) respectively. Multivariable regression models including traditional logit model, model fitted with generalized estimating equations, and those incorporating results from propensity score matching methods were used to investigate the association of helicopter transport with survival compared with ground EMS.
Of the 1018 snowboarders and skiers who met the criteria, 360 (35.4%) were transported via helicopters whereas 658 (64.6%) via ground EMS with a mortality rate of 1.7% and 1.5%, respectively. Multivariable log-binomial models demonstrated association of prehospital helicopter transport with increased survival (odds ratio 8.58; 95% confidence interval 1.09–67.64; P = 0.041; absolute risk reduction: 10.06%). This finding persisted after propensity score matching (odds ratio 24.73; 95% confidence interval 5.74–152.55; P < 0.001). The corresponding absolute risk reduction implies that approximately 10 patients need to be transported via helicopter to save 1 life.
Based on our robust statistical analysis of retrospective data, our findings suggest prehospital helicopter transport improved survival in patients incurring TBI after snowboard- or ski-related falls compared with those transported via ground EMS. Policies directed at using helicopter services at remote winter resorts or ski or snowboarding locations should be implemented.
Facial Trauma: How Dangerous Are Skiing and Snowboarding?
2010, Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Citation Excerpt :
The main mechanism of injury in both groups was a simple fall, with a greater risk for snowboarders than for skiers. Generally, head injury is the most frequent reason for hospital admission.15-18 Depending on the injury definition, age, and gender of the group, they account for 5%19 to 51.5%20 of all injuries in skiers.
The aim of this study was to investigate maxillofacial injuries sustained in both skiing and snowboarding accidents and correlate injury mechanisms and patterns evaluating a large population.
Between 1991 and 2003, all patients with maxillofacial injuries due to skiing and snowboarding accidents (1,393 cases) were reviewed and statistically analyzed according to age, gender, type of injury, cause of accident, location of trauma, and associated injuries.
Skiing accidents resulted in a total of 1,250 injuries, and snowboarding resulted in 143. In this study 686 skiers presented with 1,452 facial bone fractures and 80 snowboarders sustained 160 fractures of the face. Skiers had dentoalveolar trauma in 810 cases and 1,295 soft tissue injuries, whereas snowboarders had 88 dental injuries and 187 soft tissue lesions. Mechanisms of injury included 542 cases due to skiing and 85 falls due to snowboarding (a 1.79-fold higher risk for snowboarders). The gender distribution showed a male-female ratio of 3:1 in skiers and 5.5:1 in snowboarders. In both groups male patients were more prone to have a facial bone fracture than female patients. Snowboarders aged between 10 and 29 years had a 2.14-fold higher risk of sustaining a maxillofacial injury than skiers.
In both groups facial bone fractures occurred more often in male patients, and they were more likely to result from falls and collisions with other persons. Young snowboarders had a higher risk of maxillofacial injuries (especially soft tissue lesions) than skiers, whereas for children and old persons, skiing posed a much higher risk. Wearing a helmet while skiing and snowboarding should be mandatory to prevent serious trauma to the head.
Alpine ski and snowboarding traumatic injuries: incidence, injury patterns, and risk factors for 10 years
2009, American Journal of Surgery
Alpine skiing and snowboarding are popular winter sports in Canada. Every year participation in these activities results in traumatic injury. The purpose of this study was to identify the incidence and injury patterns, as well as risk factors associated with ski and snowboarding injuries.
A comprehensive 10-year retrospective review of Alpine ski and snowboarding injuries from 1996 to 2006 was conducted. The Alberta Trauma Registry was used as the primary source of data.
A total of 196 patients (56.6% skiers, 43.4% snowboarders) were identified as having major traumatic injuries (Injury Severity Score, ≥12). Forty-three patients required intensive care unit support. The majority of injuries were related to falls and collisions with natural objects. Head injuries were most common, followed by chest, spinal, and extremity trauma. Seventy-nine patients required emergency surgery.
Skiing and snowboarding represent activities with high potential for traumatic injury. Safety initiatives should be developed to target this population.
The epidemiology of acute sports-related fractures in adults
2008, Injury
Citation Excerpt :
There is a considerable literature regarding injuries caused by sport but there is a very little information about the epidemiology of sports-related fractures in adults. There have been a number of studies of the epidemiology of sports injuries in children2,13 and in particular sports such as football,9,11,12 rugby,1,8,15,21 skiing,6,14,19 snowboarding,7,17,20 horse riding3 and ice hockey have been examined in some detail. However, the majority of these studies have concentrated on the occasional more severe injuries or on the, often serious, severe lower limb soft tissue injuries associated with these, and other, sports.
To determine the incidence and epidemiology of acute sports-related fractures in adults.
Retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database containing all in-patient and out-patient fractures in a defined patient population in 2000.
Orthopaedic Trauma Unit.
There were 5953 fractures in 2000 of which 761 (12.8%) were caused in sporting accidents. The overall incidence was 142/10⁵ with 261/10⁵ in males and 35/10⁵ in females. The mean age was 25.6 years. 41 sports caused the fractures but 10 sports accounted for 86.8% of fractures. In 40 sports the highest prevalence of fractures were in the upper limb and the commonest fractures seen were in the distal radius, metacarpus and finger phalanges although the highest prevalence was in the clavicle. Sports fractures comprised 16.5% of upper limb fractures and 7.5% of lower limb fractures. Our results suggest that there are 80,000–85,000 sports fractures annually in the United Kingdom of which about 18,000 require operative treatment.
Sporting activities are the third most common cause of fractures. With increasing affluence it is likely that they will increase. Fractures of the wrist and hand are the most common but in some sports there are a number of higher energy fractures. Our results suggest that, even in sport, there are a number of osteoporotic fractures usually occurring in women.
The increasing incidence of snowboard-related trauma
2008, Journal of Pediatric Surgery
To investigate injuries among children and adolescents who participate in downhill sports.
We collected trauma registry data (January 1999-May 2006) from a level 1 pediatric trauma center with an average snowfall of 28 in (71 cm)/y. Cases were analyzed for injury mechanism, injury type, organ injured, Injury Severity Score, age, sex, and whether or not an operation was required.
There were 57 snowboarders and 22 skiers admitted during the study period. Forty-one (72%) of snowboarders and 16 (73%) of skiers required operations; 32 (56%) of snowboarders and 9 (41%) of skiers sustained fractures; and 14 (25%) of snowboarders and 6 (27%) of skiers sustained abdominal injuries. (P = NS for all comparisons). Serious splenic injuries were more common in snowboarders (14% vs 4%), but the difference was not statistically significant. All skiing injuries occurred at recreational facilities (commercial skiing areas), whereas 12% of snowboard injuries occurred at home, other residence, or public parks (P = .08). The most striking finding is the rising number of snowboarding injuries and the relatively stable rate of skiing injuries (see graph).
As the popularity of snowboarding rises, snowboarding injuries in children are increasing. Pediatric surgeons should be wary of the “snowboard spleen.”

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PaperSevere snowboarding injuries

Abstract

Lancet

Orthop Clin North Am

Orthop Clin North Am

The year that was was a very good year

Ski Magazine

Snowboard injuries

Am J Sports Med

Snowboarding injuries: an analysis and comparison with alpine skiing injuries

Can Med Assoc J

Downhill skiing injuries in children

Am J Sports Med

Skiing injuries in children and adults: trends during an eight-year period

Deaths associated with skiing in Australia: a 32-year study of cases from the Snowy Mountains

Med J Austr

Paper
Severe snowboarding injuries