SPECTRUM OF INJURIES FROM SNOWBOARDING

Objective: To examine and compare the types, frequency, and associated risk factors of injuries sustained in snowboarders with downhill skie rs. Design: Prospectively administered survey. Materials and Methods: All snowboarders and skiers who presented to a rural hospital emergenc y department in California during one winter season were asked to answ er a survey eliciting information regarding participants' demographics , previous experience, equipment use and circumstances surrounding the ir injury. Measurements and Main Results: An overall response rate of 87.4% yielded examination of 355 injured snowboarders, Victims tended to be male (81%) with a mean age of 19.8. Snowboarders were more likel y to injure the upper limb than skiers (58% vs, 32%, respectively, p < 0.001) but less likely to injure the lower extremities (16% vs, 35%, p < 0.001), Wrist injuries were most common, Nonorthopedic injuries we re less common but potentially life threatening, The data also suggest that aerial maneuvers are associated with increased risk of injury to the head, face, spine, and abdomen and that collisions are associated with more severe injury, Snow conditions had no apparent effect on th e type, location, or severity of injury and the reported use of alcoho l and drugs was low (7%), It was estimated that snowboarders comprised 20 to 25% of participants on the slope but represented 45% of emergen cy department visits. Conclusions: There exists a wide spectrum of inj uries from snowboarding, ranging from common extremity injuries to pot entially life-threatening nonorthopedic trauma.