Snowmobile injuries in Utah

mObjective: To describe the epidemiology of snowmobile injuries in Utah. Me thods: Analysis of probabilistically linked statewide emergency department (ED), hospital admission, and death certificate data for 1996 and 1997. Res ults: There were 625 cases of snowmobile-related injuries. The majority (83 %) were evaluated in the ED only. Median ED patient age was 29 years (range 3-74 years), and 66% were male. The leading diagnoses were open wounds to the head (7.8%), back strains (5.4%), and contusions of the trunk and lower extremities 5.2% and 5.0%, respectively). An Injury Severity Score (ISS) o f greater than or equal to4 (range 1-75) was found in 37% of the ED patient s. The median charge was $373 per patient, with two-year cumulative charges of $266,283. One hundred seven patients required inpatient hospital care, Median inpatient age was 32 years (range 4-92 years), and 60% were male. Le ading inpatient diagnoses were fracture of the vertebral column (9.3%), low er extremity fracture (9.3%), upper extremity fracture (6.5%), and pelvis f racture (3.7%). An ISS of greater than or equal to4 (range 1-38) was found in 70% of the hospitalized patients. Average length of stay was 3 days, wit h a range of 1 to 68 days. Median inpatient charge was $6,003 per patient, with two-year cumulative charges of $1,333,218. Ten inpatients required tra nsfer for rehabilitation or skilled nursing care. There were a total of six fatalities, three of which occurred in the ED, one in the inpatient popula tion, and two identified from the death certificate database. Conclusions: By combining ED, inpatient, and death certificate data sets, probabilistic linkage provides a comprehensive description of snowmobile-related injuries and a baseline evaluation of morbidity, mortality, and financial burden.