The winter sport of alpine skiing was developed about 100 years ago, and, currently, about 40 million alpine skiers venture to the 300 alpine resorts in the world’s major mountain chains, in approximately 40 different countries.1 Within the past decade, there has been great growth in snowboarding as well. In 2000, the Canadian Ski Council listed snowboarding as one of the fastest growing winter sports, with a 4% decrease in skiing attributed to a 21% increase in snowboarding (www.canadianskicouncil.org). New activities, with modifications in equipment, such as snowblading, are now popular on the mountains as well.

Alpine skiing and snowboarding are sports that involve high velocity and, recently, an increased propensity for participants to jump and perform acrobatic maneuvers, factors that may result in injury. Increased participation in jumping and acrobatics has led to a large number of brain and spinal cord injuries, and hence there is a need for participants, sports associations, facilities operators, and sports governing bodies to become more aware of the risks and dangers associated with these activities.2^–8

We reviewed the literature on traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injury (SCI) in alpine skiing and snowboarding. The objectives of the review were to: (1) examine the epidemiology of TBI and SCI in skiing and snowboarding; (2) describe and examine the effectiveness of prevention strategies to reduce the incidence of TBI and SCI in skiing and snowboarding. The review examines the responsibilities of alpine participants, sports associations, facilities operators, and sports governing bodies worldwide.

METHODS

Inclusion criteria

The articles included in the review had to be epidemiologically based and could be case–control, cohort, or cross-sectional studies. The types of study design included both retrospective and prospective analyses, some of which came from trauma registries and databases. In addition, two studies were included that used death certificates and coroners’ reports for retrospective analysis. We also included retrospective reviews that provided independent analyses separate from the other included articles.

Search strategies

The following electronic databases were searched using standardized terms: the original search was performed with PubMed (performed December 2004), followed by updated searches in October 2006 in Medline (1966 to September Week 4 2006), EMBASE (1980 to 2006 Week 40), CDSR, ACP Journal Club, DARE, CCTR, SportDiscus, and CINAHL (1982 to October Week 1 2006). Brain and spinal cord injuries of all severities were included, and search terms and outputs are available upon request. In addition, Advanced Google searches were performed to locate conference proceedings and any additional websites.

Study selection and inclusion criteria

Articles were prescreened to determine their inclusion in the review. Articles had to be agreed upon by two reviewers (AA and CHT) and had to have one or more of the following MeSH headings: traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, head injury, CNS injury, winter sports, skiing, snowboarding. For inclusion in the review, the prescreened articles had to be on the topic of skiing, snowboarding, or both, and include epidemiological data on SCI, TBI, or both. Articles of all languages were included from the 15-year period of January 1990 to December 2004. We used a translator for the non-English articles to summarize their information. Lastly, with respect to the definition of TBI, we accepted all severities of injury, and thus concussion would have been included. However, it is acknowledged that the definition of head injury has changed during the last 10 years.9 It is not known to what extent this change has affected the incidence data. Tables 1 and 2 contain summaries of the most informative of the 24 articles included.

Exclusion criteria

Excluded were case reports of TBI and SCI in skiing and snowboarding and studies that did not contain comprehensive epidemiological information on SCI and/or TBI.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Search summary

From the 877 citations that were found, 51 were selected for citation in this review, and 24 met the inclusion criteria to be included in the epidemiological tables (tables 1 and 2). Of these 24 articles, 18 focused on TBI, 11 on SCI, and five on both SCI and TBI in skiing and/or snowboarding. Six were restricted to skiing, four were restricted to snowboarding, and 14 included both. One article included skiing, snowboarding, and snowblading.

Epidemiology of skiing and snowboarding injuries

The overall incidence of injuries of all types while skiing or snowboarding is relatively low.10 For example, a review by Koehle et al11 suggested that the overall injury rate for all types of skiing injuries declined from five to eight injuries per 1000 skier days in the 1970s, to the current rate of two to three injuries per 1000 skier days. This major reduction was attributed primarily to the improvement in equipment.

Levy et al12 observed that, in the USA, snowboarders were more likely than skiers to sustain all types of injury (odds ratio 1.66:1; 95% CI 1.00 to 2.76; p = 0.05). A Norwegian report showed that snowboarders are 3–4 times more likely than skiers to incur all types of injury, and that these occur in a younger population.13 Hagel et al14 reported that, after adjustment for age, sex, and calendar year, snowboarders in Canada were 50% (95% CI 1.3 to 1.8) more likely to have head and neck injury than alpine skiers.

Risk factors for skiers and snowboarders

Traumatic brain injury

In both skiing and snowboarding, the leading cause of death and catastrophic injury is TBI.1215 Although head injuries comprise only 3–15% of all injuries in skiers and snowboarders, it appears that the incidence of TBI is increasing.611^–1316^–19 The risk of a ski fatality is estimated at 0.5–1.96 per million skier visits, with most deaths attributed to massive head, neck, or thoracoabdominal injury.20 The review by Levy et al12 estimated that TBI accounted for 50–88% of the fatalities seen at various ski resorts. The denominator data used to report head injury have varied in the literature. A study conducted between 1980 and 2001 in Colorado, USA reported that skiing death rates ranged from 0.53 to 1.88 per million skier visits, with a rising trend over the 21 ski seasons. In addition, they reported that 42.5% of these deaths resulted from TBI, and that this number increased to 67% in children.2122

Levy et al reported 16 deaths among 1214 injured skiers and snowboarders (1.3%) admitted to a level I trauma center in Colorado, where TBI was the cause of death in 87.5% of those cases. Furthermore, of the 1214 patients, 28.8% had TBI; they had an average age of 26.9 years. Skiers and snowboarders under the age of 35 were 3 times more likely to sustain a head injury than older participants, and male skiers and snowboarders were 2.2 times more likely than their female counterparts to sustain a head injury.12 Although most injuries were concussions (69.4%), 14.3% of these patients had various types of more serious brain injury.12 Another report by Levy and Smith19 showed that head injuries accounted for 28.0% of all injuries in skiers compared with 33.5% in snowboarders.

A prospective study of head injuries in skiers and snowboarders in Niigata, Japan between 1994 and 1999 reported that snowboard-related head injuries occurred at a rate of 6.33 per 100 000 snowboarder days, compared with a rate in skiers of 1.03.17 The average age of the snowboarders was 3.6 years younger than that of skiers (22.2 and 25.8, respectively), and injuries to males were also more prevalent in the snowboard group (63% of all snowboard injuries were in males; 51% of all ski injuries were in males).17

Nakaguchi et al23 reported the results of a prospective study on head injury in skiing and snowboarding in Chino, Nagano, Japan for the years 1995–1997. They found an incidence of head injury of 6.5 per 100 000 visits for snowboarders, compared with 3.8 per 100 000 visits for skiers. They also reported that beginner snowboarders were more likely to suffer head injuries and had a much higher incidence of severe head injuries than beginner skiers.

In 1996, Macnab and Cadman24 reported the epidemiology of skiing and snowboarding injuries for Blackcomb Mountain, in British Columbia, Canada. They used ski patrol injury reports, and found that head and face injuries constituted 22% and 17%, respectively, of all injuries, and, of these injuries, 22% were serious enough to cause loss of consciousness. Ski days of high school outings were associated with a 25% higher likelihood of injury than outings involving participants aged 18 or older.

Another study, using ski and snowboarding injury statistics from the British Columbia Trauma Registry, reported head injury rates in skiers and snowboarders of 0.005 and 0.004 per 1000 participants, respectively. Although skiers had a greater proportion of concussions than snowboarders (60% vs 21%), snowboarders had a much higher proportion of more severe brain injuries (29% vs 15%).25

In a study of snow sport injuries in eastern Canada from Mt Tremblant, Quebec, concussions represented 11% of all injuries, and most head injuries (83%) were concussions.26 Concussions represented 9.6% of all injuries in skiers, 14.7% of injuries in snowboarders, and 5.7% in snowbladers. Those with neck injuries also experienced significantly more concussions than those without, and there was no increase in neck injury in participants wearing a helmet. Most concussions occurred after 2–5 h of activity in intermediate participants and in those who had not had a lesson, as well as those who were skiing recreationally rather than competing. Moreover, the risk of sustaining a concussion on ungroomed and rough snow was 2.5 times greater than for soft snow. Male participants were more likely to sustain a head injury than female participants, and a large proportion of concussions resulted from head-to-object or head-to-snow impacts.

A study from Sugarbush, Vermont, USA reported that the occurrence of head injuries and concussions in adolescents had risen during the 21-year period from 1972/1973–1993/1994. The proportion of head injuries increased from 5.7% to 8.9%, and concussions increased from 2.8% to 4.8%.6

In January 1999, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission evaluated the incidence of head injuries in skiing and snowboarding, in an attempt to develop solutions to reduce head injury.27 They evaluated data collected between 1993 and 1997, and reported that the percentage of head injuries in skiing increased from 12% in 1993 to 15% in 1997. In snowboarding, they found that the estimated number of head injuries increased from 1000 in 1993 to 5200 in 1997. They concluded that the increase in head injuries was significant, even if it was only due to increased participation in the sport. Overall, they suggested that head injuries accounted for about 14% of all injuries in skiing and snowboarding among children (age 15 and under), and that this percentage increased to 22% of all injuries in the 4-year interval.27

Thus, it appears that TBI in skiing and snowboarding is a significant problem in many countries, and that the incidence is increasing. The reasons for the increase are not apparent, but may be related to increased recognition of the clinical signs of TBI, better surveillance, changes in the definition of TBI, increased risk taking such as jumping and acrobatic activities, and higher velocities. In addition, the increase may be linked with the proliferation of snowparks, and a possible increase in the risk of injuries associated with snowpark use where terrain is modified to accommodate acrobatic maneuvers.28

Spinal cord injury

A review by Levy & Smith19 found that SCI in skiing and snowboarding was in the range 1–13% of all injuries, with a more probable rate (found in larger studies) of 2–4% of all injuries. Moreover, they indicated that the incidence of SCI is approximately 0.075 per 1000 skier/snowboarder days. Another study from Denver, Colorado, USA reported rates as low as 0.001 per 1000 skier days.30

The increasing incidence of SCI has also been demonstrated by a study in Sugarbush, Vermont, USA. The authors found that the rate of SCI in a 21-year period (1972/3–1993/94 ski seasons) increased in children and adolescent skiers by 130% and 407%, respectively.619 A retrospective review by Floyd31 reported spinal trauma in alpine skiing and snowboarding at a major American winter resort. During the 11-year period (1986–1997), there were 3 990 664 skier days, and an overall incidence of spinal trauma of 1 per 97 333 skier days. Surgical intervention for the SCI was required in 9% of the injured skiers, and permanent neurological sequelae or death occurred at a rate of 1 per 1 995 332 skier days.31

A study from the Innsbruck University Hospital reported that spinal injuries constituted 4.9% of all winter sports injuries. The authors collected data between 1982 and 1992 and found that there was an increase in injuries due to an increase in speed and an increase in collisions. Most winter sport spinal injuries (81.7%) were the result of skiing. The 15–25-year age group had the largest contingent of spinal injuries at 39.8%. The authors also commented that serious spinal injuries in snowboarding were most common in the cervical region.32 They also noted that head injuries were escalating, but no other data about head injuries were given.

Tarazi et al7 collected data on spinal injuries in skiers and snowboarders for two complete ski seasons at the Whistler and Blackcomb Ski Resorts in British Columbia, Canada (November 1994 to April 1996). They reported that the incidence of SCI was 0.01 per 1000 skier days for skiers and 0.04 per 1000 snowboarder days for snowboarders (data not adjusted for age). They found that 70% of all SCIs in skiing were to men, and SCI in snowboarding was found only in men. The mean age of skiers with SCI was 35.4 years, but the mean age of snowboarders with SCI was 22.4 years. Jumps (77%) were the main cause of SCI in snowboarders, followed by falls (18%). In contrast, in skiing, falls (59%) were the primary cause of SCI, followed by jumping (20%)7. Another study from Giru Prefecture, Japan showed that most SCIs in skiers were due to simple falls, whereas snowboarders suffered SCI because of jumping.33 Thus, SCI in skiers and boarders is a significant problem, especially in young male snowboarders, and is increasing with the increased risk-taking behavior occurring on the mountains.3435

Injury prevention

Helmets

Ski helmets are designed to resist impact. There is evidence that they can absorb energy at speeds up to ∼19 km/h, and minimize damage to the brain.36 Although controversy exists about the precise degree of efficacy of helmets in protecting against injury,11 numerous studies support the use of helmets for both skiing and snowboarding.8111219232737^–43 Some studies of case series suggest a major protective effect of helmets by indicating that none or few of the head-injured skiers or snowboarders were helmeted.124445 Data from other case-series investigations allow additional comparisons to be made that offer better evidence for head injury protection by helmets.4647 However, only three case–control studies were conducted with the express purpose of determining whether helmets protect against head injuries.384348 Sulheim et al48 found that helmet use was associated with a 60% reduction in the risk of a head injury. Another cohort study provided some evidence on helmet effectiveness, although the small number of participants makes interpretation of the results difficult.49 The association of helmet use and reduction in head injury risk ranged from 22% to 60% in various reports.38434647

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 44% of head injuries could be prevented by the use of helmets in skiing and snowboarding, and that the use of helmets for children aged 15 and under could reduce head injuries in this group by 53%.27 In addition, this commission reviewed death certificates of skiers and snowboarders, and found that 11 deaths per year were attributed to head injuries that could have been prevented by the use of helmets.27

To date, there is no standard for ski helmets in many countries, including Canada. The most common standards used are the American Snell RS-98 test and Central European Standards EN1077 and UNI EN 812 (www.ski-injury.com/helmet.htm). The US Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that most helmets in the US are imported from Europe and cost approximately US$75–300. They also report that rental shops rent helmets for US$4–5 per day. Hennessey et al50 conducted a survey of ski helmet availability in ski rental shops in Colorado, USA, and found that 2–38% of skiers and snowboarders rent equipment, but only 3.2% (range 1–8.6%) also rented a helmet. Fifteen of 24 (62%) ski resorts replied to the survey: 13 (87%) stated that they encouraged helmet rental regardless of age and ability; 12 (80%) indicated that children were most likely to rent a helmet, and the other three respondents did not answer. In a study conducted in multiple US ski resorts (data collected from mid January until early April of 2001), helmets were worn by 12.1% (95% CI 11.0 to 13.3) of the skiing population. Moreover, the highest prevalence of helmet use was in the expert skier/snowboarder category.51

There is some concern that helmet wearing is associated with an increased risk of cervical spine injuries in children (13 and under) in skiing and snowboarding. However, Macnab & Cadman24 studied this phenomenon and found that helmet wearing did not increase the incidence or severity of neck injury in skiers and snowboarders in this age group. Bridges et al26 studied an even younger group in their Mt Tremblant study, and also found that, when adjusted for age (<6, 6–12, >12), there was no increase in neck injury due to helmet use. Sulheim et al48 found that helmet use did not increase the risk of neck injury in alpine skiing and snowboarding populations. Hagel et al43 could not rule out the possibility of an increased risk of neck injury with helmet use, but estimates were imprecise. The issue of neck injury in relation to helmet use requires further study. However, given the equivocal evidence for neck injury risk and the greater incidence of head, compared with neck, injuries in these activities, we recommend helmet use for all skiers and snowboarders.

Helmet fitting is an important safety issue. For example, many parents buy helmets that are too large to allow “room to grow”, and this is unsafe because a poor fit means reduced protection, vision, and hearing.41 Helmet-fitting tips to ensure an optimal and proper fit include the following: (a) the helmet should fit snugly; (b) helmet sizing charts should be used for each helmet brand, and, if the helmet measurement is between two sizes, the larger size should be chosen; (c) several helmet brands should be tried; (d) there should be no red/pressure spots on the head after use. However, there is no direct evidence that a properly fitted helmet offers increased protection.

Risks and prevention

Advances in skiing/snowboarding equipment and techniques have produced increased velocities and jumping heights. Collisions occur with other participants on the slopes and with inanimate objects, such as trees, rocks, and chairlift poles, causing injury. An Alpine Responsibility Code has been disseminated in many countries and has been emphasized in many prevention programs such as “Respect” and “A little Respect: ThinkFirst”, two Canadian injury prevention resources. The Code includes the following measures to minimize the chance of injury: (a) beginners should take lessons from a certified instructor; (b) never ski or snowboard alone; (c) maintain and check ski and snowboard equipment; (d) exercise and stretch before each day of skiing/snowboarding; (e) stay on marked trails; (f) follow the skiers/boarders responsibility code such as developed by the Canadian Ski Patrol; (g) be alert to physical and environmental hazards; (h) wear the appropriate gear, including helmets; (i) ski and snowboard on hills that are within your ability and skill level; (j) quit before becoming too tired.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PREVENTION

Alpine skiing and snowboarding cause a significant number of catastrophic head and spinal cord injuries, and the incidence is increasing in most countries. There is some evidence that injury prevention measures, such as helmet use, are associated with decreased rates of injury. We strongly recommend the use of helmets by all skiing and snowboarding participants. We also recommend the promotion and enforcement of standards for ski and snowboarding helmets in countries in which these activities are common. The increased incidence of TBI and SCI may be due to increased risk-taking behavior in snowboard parks and/or jumping in terrain allowing acrobatic activities, leading to more falls and collisions, especially in the young male population. Injuries in this population have long-term sequelae that are usually devastating. These injuries are often irreversible with long-term physical, emotional, and socioeconomic consequences. Prevention programs must target these populations because of these implications.