Snowboarding Injuries Research Articles

Acute Spine Injuries in Skiers and Snowboarders

Skiing and snowboarding are popular winter sports associated with significant traumatic spinal injuries. Despite a decline in most injuries related to these sports over the years, acute injury rates of the spine have remained stable and even increased. Vertebral fractures and spinal cord injuries are the most common serious acute injuries of the spine in skiers and snowboarders. Due to the unique characteristics of each sport, different injury mechanisms are responsible for the majority of injuries. This article reviews injury patterns, injury types, mechanisms of injury, and strategies for prevention of spine injuries in skiers and snowboarders.

The Causes of Injuries in Freestyle Snowboarding

Introduction: Freestyle is the most popular and common style of snowboarding. This style includes jumps, tricks, rail slides and halfpipe. Aim of the study: The aim of the present study was to estimate the causes of injuries in freestyle snowboarding. Material and Methods: The research was carried out on 211 persons (42 women and 169 men) in age from 16 to 21 years; average age for both sexes was 19.3 years. The questionnaire was used as a research method. Results: The most common reasons for injuries were technical mistakes (n=89; 81%), tiredness (n=15; 14%), icy slope (n= 14; 13%), other peoples' mistakes (n=4; 4%) and faulty equipment (n=1; 1%). Falls were the injury mechanism in 77%, collisions account for less than 12% of snowboarding injuries. Most collisions involving snowboarders occur with a stationary object. Conclusions: Individual snowboarding errors were the most common cause of injury in other study. Falls were the most common mechanism of injury in snowboarding. Language: en

An international review of head and spinal cord injuries in alpine skiing and snowboarding

Background:Alpine skiing and snowboarding are popular winter activities worldwide, enjoyed by participants of all ages and skill levels. There is some evidence that the incidence of traumatic brain injury (TBI)...

Perspectives on injuries in snowboarders

Adopting effective injury prevention practices continues to be problematic within snowboarding and the participation of older individuals is associated with an appreciable injury burden. The Haddon Matrix provides an important framework for developing injury prevention interventions. Since prevention behaviour must 'fit' within individual aspirations, our study investigated the meanings and behaviours associated with snowboarding and injury prevention and then applied the findings to the established Haddon Matrix approach. Nine, older adult recreational participants living in south-west England each contributed two interviews. These progressively focused on experiences and reflections. Verbatim transcripts were analysed and interpreted using the hermeneutic phenomenological themes of time, space, body and human relations. A further wave of analysis reinterpreted the findings in relation to the Haddon Matrix. Snowboarding was conducted within a holiday when participants were seeking happiness by positively re-evaluating their lives. In a frame of connection-and-disconnection, beginners (time) were concerned with being-on the slopes (body and space), while more experienced (body and time) participants blended this with being-in the mountains (space). Snowboarding is a bumps-and-bruises activity and this guided the limited prevention practices. Importantly, all prevention practices were time-limited, due to a concern for learning-by-doing within a holiday. At home, more experienced boarders paid careful attention to fitness, whereas in the resorts they actively selected the soft, off-piste areas and wore protective clothing to cushion their inevitable falls. Group experiences were associated with heightened injury risks. Being seen and judged by others helped to determine the quality of the snowboarding experience. Treatment was avoided for all but the most severe injuries. The findings confirm the exploratory value of mixing van Manen's four-dimensional approach with Haddon's well-established injury prevention framework. The diverse subjective meanings associated with snowboarding limit the potential for prevention approaches and suggest that resort-based 'injury control' may be more appropriate for addressing the spectrum of prevention in older snowboarders.

Severe spinal injuries in alpine skiing and snowboarding: a 6-year review of a tertiary trauma centre for the Bernese Alps ski resorts, Switzerland

Objective:To analyse the epidemiological data, injury pattern, clinical features and mechanisms of severe spinal injuries related to alpine skiing and snowboarding.Study design:A six-year review of all adult patients with severe...

Helmet Use and Risk of Head Injuries in Alpine Skiers and Snowboarders

Helmet Use and Risk of Head Injuries in Alpine Skiers and Snowboarders

Head Injury in Snowboarding: Evaluating the Protective Role of Helmets

Abstract According to a 1999 report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, head injuries represent approximately 14 % of all skiing and snowboarding injuries. In a recent retrospective study of patients treated for snowboarding-related head injuries, Nakaguchi and Tsutsumi (2002) found that major head injuries were most often associated with backward falls (68 %) resulting in occipital impacts (66 % of falls) occurring on a gentle or moderate slope. They concluded that the majority of severe snowboarding head injuries were caused by the “opposite-edge phenomenon” where the snowboarder falls backward and contacts the occiput. In order to determine if the use of skiing helmets would reduce the likelihood of head injury associated with catching an edge snowboarding, we conducted a two-part study. In the first part, we measured the speeds of over 180 snowboarders on beginner and intermediate slopes at Mammoth, CA. Across all locations at the resort, the average speeds of beginner and intermediate snowboarders were 17.7 kph (11.0 mph) and 31.9 kph (19.8 mph), respectively. In the second part of the study, we used an instrumented 50th percentile male Hybrid III anthropomorphic test device (ATD) to determine the head accelerations and neck loads associated with a backward fall onto the occiput, both with and without wearing a helmet. For these tests, the ATD was fitted with snowboarding equipment and accelerated to the speeds associated with an intermediate snowboarder (as measured in the first part of the study). Once the ATD was at speed, the snowboard was snubbed on the back edge, simulating the “opposite-edge phenomena” and the posterior aspect of the ATD head was propelled toward the snow surface or a simulated tree. Film analysis of the ATD fall kinematics demonstrated a rapid transition to whole-body angular motion at opposite edge catch. The use of a helmet reduced substantially the linear accelerations and head injury criterion associated with head-to-ground contact on hard, icy snow and during the simulated tree contact. Also, the neck loads were reduced modestly with helmet use. These findings indicate that helmets can mitigate head-to-ground contact severity associated with a common snowboarding fall scenario, the “opposite-edge-phenomenon.”

Helmet Use and Risk of Head Injuries in Alpine Skiers and Snowboarders

Although using a helmet is assumed to reduce the risk of head injuries in alpine sports, this effect is questioned. In contrast to bicycling or inline skating, there is no policy of mandatory helmet use for recreational alpine skiers and snowboarders. To determine the effect of wearing a helmet on the risk of head injury among skiers and snowboarders while correcting for other potential risk factors. Case-control study at 8 major Norwegian alpine resorts during the 2002 winter season, involving 3277 injured skiers and snowboarders reported by the ski patrol and 2992 noninjured controls who were interviewed on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The controls comprised every 10th person entering the bottom main ski lift at each resort during peak hours. The number of participants interviewed corresponded with each resort's anticipated injury count based on earlier years. Injury type, helmet use, and other risk factors (age, sex, nationality, skill level, equipment used, ski school attendance, rented or own equipment) were recorded. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between individual risk factors (including helmet wear) and risk of head injury by comparing skiers with head injuries with uninjured controls, as well as to skiers with injuries other than head injuries. Head injuries accounted for 578 injuries (17.6%). Using a helmet was associated with a 60% reduction in the risk for head injury (odds ratio [OR], 0.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.30-0.55; adjusted for other risk factors) when comparing skiers with head injuries with uninjured controls. The effect was slightly reduced (OR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.34-0.59) when skiers with other injuries were used as controls. For the 147 potentially severe head injuries, those who were referred to an emergency physician or for hospital treatment, the adjusted OR was 0.43 (95% CI, 0.25-0.77). The risk for head injury was higher among snowboarders than for alpine skiers (adjusted OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.22-1.91). Wearing a helmet is associated with reduced risk of head injury among snowboarders and alpine skiers.

The Effect of Wrist Guard Use on Upper-Extremity Injuries in Snowboarders

The Effect of Wrist Guard Use on Upper-Extremity Injuries in Snowboarders

Helmet Use and Risk of Head Injuries in Alpine Skiers and Snowboarders

Helmet Use and Risk of Head Injuries in Alpine Skiers and Snowboarders

MRI of Snow Skiing and Snowboarding Injuries

Snow skiing has been called "the world's oldest sport," "the fastest non-motorized sport on Earth," and "the riskiest sport undertaken by adults on a routine basis." This article discusses the common mechanisms for orthopedic injuries occurring in two of the most popular winter sports in the world that have a reputation for an inherently high risk of injury: alpine skiing and snowboarding. The emphasis herein is on magnetic resonance imaging of characteristic injuries in skiers (knee, thumb, shoulder) and in snowboarders (wrist, forearm, ankle). Spine injuries in snowboarders and skiers are also discussed.

The Effect of Wrist Guard Use on Upper-Extremity Injuries in Snowboarders

The objective of this investigation was to determine the effect of wrist guard use on all upper-extremity injuries in snowboarders. This matched case-control study was conducted at 19 ski areas in Quebec, Canada. Cases were 1,066 injured snowboarders who reported upper-extremity injuries to the ski patrol during the 2001-2002 season. Controls were 970 snowboarders with non-upper-extremity injuries who were matched to cases on ski area and the nearest date, age, and sex, in that order. The response rate was 71.8% (73.5% for cases and 70.1% for controls). Cases were compared with controls with regard to wrist guard use. The prevalence of wrist guard use among snowboarders with hand, wrist, or forearm injuries was 1.6%; for those with elbow, upper arm, or shoulder injuries, it was 6.3%; and for controls, it was 3.9%. Thus, wrist guard use reduced the risk of hand, wrist, or forearm injury by 85% (adjusted odds ratio = 0.15, 95% confidence interval: 0.05, 0.45). However, the adjusted odds ratio for elbow, upper arm, or shoulder injury was 2.35 (95% confidence interval: 0.70, 7.81). These results provide evidence that use of wrist guards reduces the risk of hand, wrist, and forearm injuries but may increase the risk of elbow, upper arm, and shoulder injuries.

Intracranial hypotension and recurrent pleural effusion after snow-boarding injury: a manifestation of cerebrospinal fluid–pleural fistula

Background data Intracranial hypotension causing postural headaches has been described after occult and postsurgical cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks and rarely isolated lumbar punctures. The occurrence of a CSF-pleural communication is much rarer, and a high level of suspicion aids in prompt recognition. Purpose Early detection and anatomic delineation of the site of CSF-pleural fistula allows prompt intervention, results in resolution of symptoms and prevents the complication of meningitis. Study design A case of intracranial hypotension with postural headaches is described after spinal surgery, with demonstration on computed tomography (CT) myelography of a rare CSF-pleural fistula. Methods The clinical presentation, postoperative intervention and imaging as well as laboratory data are presented. Results Chest X-ray showed recurrent pleural effusion after placement of chest tube, and serial head CT studies revealed decreasing ventricular size with development of severe headaches. Myelogram and CT postmyelogram demonstrate the CSF-pleural communication, allowing appropriate surgical repair. Conclusion Severe headaches with a recurrent pleural effusion after thoracic spinal surgery may indicate presence of a CSF-pleural fistula, an unusual complication of thoracic spinal surgery.

Lumbar Chance Fracture in an Adult Snowboarder

A case of a Chance fracture in an adult snowboarder following a fall is presented. The mechanism of this fracture is reported. To increase awareness of the spinal injuries in snowboarders and to propose the mechanism of this unusual fracture. Chance fractures rarely occur in adults and are very unusual in children. Nearly all of the reported cases are in conjunction with lap-type seat belt injuries. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of a lumbar Chance fracture in an adult snowboarder. A 25-year-old snowboarder sustained an L1 Chance fracture following a fall backward. The patient was placed in a hyperextension cast, and the cast was changed to a thoracolumbar orthosis after 12 weeks. Complete bony union was obtained with body cast immobilization, and an excellent functional restoration was obtained. Chance fractures are horizontal splitting fractures of the posterior elements of the vertebrae, and the mechanism of the injury is that of a hyperflexion of the spine over a fulcrum. A Chance-type fracture can be seen in an adult snowboarder, when acute hyperflexion of the spine occurs following a fall backward.

Skiing and snowboarding injuries and their impact on the emergency care system in South Tyrol: a restrospective analysis for the winter season 2001–2002

Objectives. To evaluate the incidence and the pattern of skiing and snowboarding injuries in South Tyrol and their impact on the emergency medical system in the winter season 2001–2002 in an attempt to rationalize and improve the emergency care and assist in prevention strategies. Methods. All medical records of patients referred to our emergency department (ED) that sustained a skiing or snowboarding injury during the study period were retrospectively reviewed. Age, sex, local or non-local residency, type of injury, data and time of accident, type of transport to the hospital, hospital admission or ED discharge, Injury Severity Score, outcome (including mortality) were evaluated. On site mortality data were obtained from the emergency call-center registry. Ski resorts utilization was estimated from the data published by the Regional Office of Cable Transport. Results. For the period analyzed approximately 2,500,000 skier and snowboarder days were recorded in the whole region of which about 500,000 were attributed to the four nearby ski resorts that refer to our hospital. Of the 1087 patients, 794 were skiers and 294 were snowboarders. Snowboarders were younger than skiers (mean age 20 and 36 respectively, p = 0.001). Females were equally represented in the two groups. Male patients, children, senior skiers and non-local residents suffered from more severe injuries than their corresponding classes (p < 0.01, p = 0.002, p = 0.02, p = 0.000 respectively). Critical injuries (ISS ≥ 25) were homogeneously spread in the groups, with the exception of the non-local resident patients that showed a higher incidence (p < 0.02). No difference in severity was found between skiers and snowboarders. The incidence was 2.05 per 1,000 skier-days. Mortality rate was 1.6 per 1,000,000 skier-days. The pattern of injury was different: snowboarders showed more forearm and wrist trauma and skiers more lower extremity injuries. 208 patients were hospitalized and the mean length of stay was 4.5 days. Head trauma and fractures were the most common diagnosis of admission. The lack of field triage led to 12% of unjustified helicopter transfer and 9.6% of avoidable ambulance transport. Conclusions. Incidence, pattern of injuries and mortality from skiing and snowboarding accidents in South Tyrol resemble those reported in other part of the world. Nevertheless, strategies for prevention are needed. The routine use of helmets should be enforced by law. Dangerous behaviors should be prosecuted. Skiers and snowboarders should be made aware that skiing beyond their technical ability can be life-threatening.

Helmets Reduce the Risk of Head Injuries in Alpine Skiing Disciplines and Snowboarding

Helmets Reduce the Risk of Head Injuries in Alpine Skiing Disciplines and Snowboarding

Helmets Reduce the Risk of Head Injuries in Alpine Skiing Disciplines and Snowboarding

Helmets Reduce the Risk of Head Injuries in Alpine Skiing Disciplines and Snowboarding

A 10-year study of snowboard injuries in Lapland Sweden.

Snowboard injuries in a Swedish ski area were evaluated from 1989 to 1999. All injured skiers (alpine, telemark, snowboarders) who sought medical attention at the local Medical Center within 48 h of the accident, were asked to answer an injury form. Physicians assessed and treated the injured skiers. There were a total of 1775 injured skiers; 568 injured snowboarders mean age 19 years. The female/male ratio was 34/66%, the injury rate 3/1000 skier days, three times higher than that of alpine skiers. The skill level of the injured snowboard riders improved during the period. The fall/run ratio of the beginners was higher (1.0) and their risk behavior lower (3.9 on visual analogue scale 1-10) in comparison to the advanced riders (0.4 and 6.6, respectively). Injuries were in 54% located to the upper extremity, 35% were wrist/lower arm injuries. Beginners had significantly higher frequency of lower arm/wrist injuries (46%), than average (32%) and advanced riders (20%). The most frequent single diagnosis was wrist/lower arm fracture (20%). Advanced riders tend to have more head/neck injuries than beginners, 17% vs. 13% (NS). Thus, with elevated skill level the injury pattern changed. For injury prevention, wrist guards and helmets are recommended for snowboard riders.

Wrist Fractures From Snowboarding

To elucidate the epidemiology and the mechanisms of snowboarding wrist injuries, especially distal radial fractures. A prospective survey of snowboarders with distal radial fractures. From November 21, 1998, to April 22, 2001, we analyzed and interviewed 5110 injured snowboarders, and a total of 740 snowboarders with distal radial fractures were studied. On the basis of the medical records and radiographs, the severity of distal radial fracture was analyzed according to the AO classification. Distal radial fractures occurred at a rate of 0.31 per 1000 snowboarder visits and were assessed in 740 snowboarders in this study. Most of the injured snowboarders were either of beginner (42.0%) or intermediate level (48.1%). The most common events leading to an injury in snowboarding were falling (59.6%) and jumping (36.1%). Comminuted and articular fractures classified as AO types A3, B, and C, which required surgical treatment, made up 63.2% of distal radial fractures in snowboarders. The most remarkable differences between the first-time or beginner group and the intermediate or expert group were that the former had a significantly higher proportions of extra-articular fractures classified as AO type A (P < 0.05), and the latter were significantly more likely to have compression or complex intra-articular fractures such as AO type C (P < 0.05). Furthermore, first-time or beginner snowboarders were more likely to be injured because of a simple fall than were the intermediates or experts (P < 0.05). Over 60% of distal radial fractures classified as AO type C in the intermediate or expert group resulted from jumping. Furthermore, the side opposite to the snowboarder's preferred direction of stance was more often affected. A high incidence of injury during opposite-side edging, which is used more frequently in snowboarding, was found in novice female snowboarders. This study suggested several patterns in the nature of wrist injuries sustained while snowboarding, and these facts should be taken into consideration in the diagnosis of wrist injuries in snowboarders.

Snowboarding injuries : current trends and future directions.

Snowboarding has become one of the premier alpine sports. The past decade has seen the popularity of snowboarding increase dramatically and the recent Winter Olympic Games at Salt Lake City, USA, showcased the strong visual appeal of the sport and the youth-oriented lifestyle and culture that accompanies it. The injury profile of the sport has also undergone change along with technological advances in boot and binding systems and the changing demographics of the sports participants. Central to the development of injury-prevention strategies is knowledge of the profile of injuries that occur, understanding those who are at particular risk and, if possible, the biomechanical factors involved in each injury type. Snowboarding was initially considered a dangerous, uncontrolled, alpine sport - an opinion based on little or no scientific evidence. That evidence has rapidly grown over the past decade and we now know that snowboard injury rates are no different to those in skiing; however, the injury profile is different. The purpose of this review is to give some perspective to the current snowboard injury literature. It discusses not only the demographic profile of those injured and the type of injuries that occur, but also gives some insight into the progress that has occurred in determining the impact of specific prevention strategies, such as splints to prevent injuries to the wrist/forearm. The next decade will also see a greater understanding of the biomechanical forces involved in snowboard injuries, which may well impact on future technological advances. As the literature indicates, however, some things will not change, e.g. injuries are more likely to occur in beginners and lessons need to be reinforced as a fundamental aspect of any injury-prevention strategy.