Skateboarding injuries of today

Background-Skateboarding injuries have increased with the rise in popularit y of the sport, and the injury pattern can be expected to have changed with the development of both skateboard tricks and the materials used for skate board construction. Objective-To describe the injury pattern of today. Methods-The pattern of injuries, circumstances, and severity were investiga ted in a study of all 139 people injured in skateboarding accidents during the period 1995-1998 inclusive and admitted to the University Hospital of U mea. This is the only hospital in the area, serving a population of 135 000 . Results-Three of the 139 injured were pedestrians hit by a skateboard rider ; the rest were riders. The age range was 7-47 years (mean 16). The severit y of the injuries was minor (AIS 1) to moderate (AIS 2); fractures were cla ssified as moderate. The annual number of injuries increased during the stu dy period. Fractures were found in 29% of the casualties, and four children had concussion. The most common fractures were of the ankle and wrist. Old er patients had less severe injuries, mainly sprains and soft tissue injuri es. Most children were injured while skateboarding on ramps and at arenas; only 12 (9%) were injured while skateboarding on roads. Some 37% of the inj uries occurred because of a loss of balance, and 26% because of a failed tr ick attempt. Falls caused by surface irregularities resulted in the highest proportion of the moderate injuries. Conclusions-Skateboarding should be restricted to supervised skateboard par ks, and skateboarders should be required to wear protective gear. These mea sures would reduce the number of skateboarders injured in motor vehicle col lisions, reduce the personal injuries among skateboarders, and reduce the n umber of pedestrians injured in collisions with skateboarders.