SLEDDING TRAUMA IN A NORTHEASTERN ONTARIO COMMUNITY

Goals and Objectives: To determine the incidence of sledding trauma in a northeastern Ontario community. Factors and behaviors associated wi th these events were also examined. Design: Prospective case series. S etting: Emergency departments of the Sudbury General and Memorial Hosp itals. Patients: All patients arriving at the two emergency department s in Sudbury with an injury sustained while sledding were included in the study. Physicians completed data forms on each patient. Informatio n was validated by review of the ER records. Follow-up was completed b y telephone in one to two weeks to determine residual disability. Resu lts: A total of 101 patients were identified with sledding-related inj uries. There was a higher incidence of injuries among males (59%); the mean age of injured patients was 16 years (range, 16-46 years). Injur ies occurred most frequently on weekends (51%). GT-racers were the mos t common device used by injured sledders (44%). Most injuries occurred on non-designated sledding hills in the community (71%). Many of the injuries were mild with a mean Injury Severity Score of 2.3 (range, 1- 16). However, 7 (7%) patients required hospital admission, while 58% r equired follow-up by either their family physician or a specialist. Pa tients injured while sledding missed an average of 3.7 days of work or school. Conclusions: Sledding injuries are uncommon emergency departm ent problems in this community; however, serious injury and absenteeis m from work or school may result. Most injuries appear to be preventab le and strategies of prevention are discussed.