Mechanisms And External Causes Of Injuries Among Patients At A Ski And Snowboard Resort Clinic

Abstract

(No relationships reported) BACKGROUND: We are developing a multi-center, long-term injury surveillance system for ski and snowboard injuries and have collected two years of pilot-scale data at a single resort. We retrospectively reviewed all injuries seen at a single medical clinic located at the base of a mountain resort. An analysis of two aspects of these injuries _ spine injuries and listening to music as an external cause _ is presented here. Our longer term goal is to use surveillance data to identify mechanisms of injury and devise and test injury prevention interventions. PURPOSE: To quantify and describe the injuries seen at one clinic during the 2007-2008 winter season, accounting for patron load with emphasis on spinal injuries and listening to music. METHODS: Medical records and ski patrol report forms were analyzed for N=1,639 patients seen at a mountainside clinic between November 2007 and April 2008. RESULTS: Median age of all patients was 22 years with males younger than females (p<0.05) and helmet use more common among younger patients (p<0.001). Injured snowboarders (mean=21 years) were younger than injured skiers (34 years) (p<0.001) and had increased odds (OR=1.5) of spinal injury, but were more likely to be wearing a helmet (OR=1.4) (p<0.05). Several mechanisms were associated with increased odds of spinal injury compared to the most common mechanism of 'catching an edge' including: out of control (OR=2.4), landing short (OR=2.8) or long (OR=6.9) off of a jump, and hit by a snowboarder (OR=6.3). Patients injured in a terrain park were younger (20 vs. 29 years), more likely to be male (OR=5.3), and listening to music (OR=4.8) than those injured elsewhere. (p<0.001. Snowboarders comprised 70% of patients injured in a terrain park. Patients listening to music when injured were younger (23 vs. 28 years) and more likely to be snowboarding (OR=2.9) than those patients not listening to music (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Reported results are limited to patients seen in clinic. Without denominator data, rates cannot be calculated. Demographics and behaviors can predict risk of some injuries. Modifiable factors such as skill level and concomitant distractions affect risk of injury. Surveillance is ongoing. We will begin data collection using an electronic medical record for the 2008/9 season. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: Utah Sports Research Network.