Snowboarding Related Injuries


These are all the available references to injuries related to snowboarding.

 Title:Snowboarding accidents 1991 to 1994--an analysis
Author: Oberthaler-G: Primavesi-C; Neieerwieser-B; Hertz-H
Source:Sportverletz-Sportschade. 1995 Dec; 9(4): 118-22

Abstract: 437 Snowboard injuries were taken unker surveilance in the years 1991 till 1994. The average age was 21.5 years. 422 (97%) injureies ere caused by a crash; only 15 (3%) by a collision. 178 patients (41%) needed only one single office visit, 259 patients (59%) had to undergo longer outpatient treatment (mean 27days). Only 34 patient (8%) needed inipatient tr4eatment with an average stay of 4.44 days. 127 patients (29%) were on sick leave for several days ( mean 20.57days). The most common diagnosis was a distortion 183 (38%), followed by fractures 148 (31%) and contusions 98 ( 21%). THe upper extremeites were the predominat injury site in 51% (245) with no prevalence of the left or right. THe lower extremities ere injured in 34% (163) with a prevalence of the left leg 2/3. Head, spine, chest and abdomen were injured in 15% (69). Thbe typical snowbarders injury however is an injury of th wrist (182/ 27%). Here of 71 (39%) were fractures of the distal radius. THe knee joint being the scond most common injury sight in 109 (16%) cases, mainly iwth sprains (63/60%), sedomly iwth mensical tears and/or ligament ruptures (10/ 10%) and rearely fractures (3 /3%). The fixation of both legs during snowboarding seems to be protective against complex knee joint injuries. Other regions injured in less than 10%

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Title:Snow-boarding injures can be prevented
Author:Bjornstig, J; Bjornstig,U
Source:Nord-Med. 1996 Jan; 111(1): 7-9

Abstract: The last four winter seasons have witnessed a dramatic increase i the propularity of snowboarding. A series of snowboarding injureis treated at University Hospital, Umea, predominatly consisted of those sustained by teenage boys, often when jumping or losing balance for other reasons. tHe upper extremities were the most common sites of injury, 2/3 of htese injuries being fractures. THe commonest type of lower extremity injury was sprain, and 2/3 of lower extremity injuries affected the foremost leg. To prevent injuries, it is recommended tha snowboard bindings should be modified by the introduction of jsome sort of release mechanism, and enthusiasts should be urged to attend a training course, to use soft-shell footwear and to wer gloves with reinforcement protecting the hand and wrist.

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Title:Severe Snowboarding injuries
Author:Prall, JA; Winston, KR; Brennan, R
Source: Injury. 1995 Oct;26(8): 539-42

Thirty-seven consecutive patiens with severe snowboard related injuries (defined by referral to a Level 1 trauma centre) were revied. THe type and mechanism of each injury were examied and found to be similar to those reported for skiers. Mild closed head inuries were common (54%). Head and abdominal injuries were more common among snowboarders then skiers, but chest and skeletal injuries were rare. There were no deaths. Serious snowboarding injury rates were similar to those for serious skiing injuries. The incidence of snowboarding injuries sufficiently severe to require tertiary referral was estimated at 0.03 injuries/1000 snowboarder days. Similar to reports of minior snowboarding injury, these data indicate that injury patterns in more serious snowboarding accidents are quite different from those of serious downhill skiing accidents. Injured snowboarders suffer splenic injuries more often and chest and spinal injuries less often than do skiers, and hsould be evaluated for blunt injuries with these statistical differences in mind.

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Title:Ski injury statsistics, 1982 to 1993, Jackson Hose Ski Report

Author: Warme, WJ; Feagin, JA Jr; King, P; Lamber, KL; Cunningham, RR
Source: American Journal of Sports Medicine. 1995 Sept-OCt; 23 (5): 597-600

Abstract: A retrospective analysis was conducted on injury statistics compiled over 12 season, from 1982 to 1993 (2.55 million skier-days), at a Wyoming ski resort. THe population at risk was determined by ticket sales per year. A total of 9749 skiing injuries was indexed by anatomic region adn severity according to diagnosis o initial evaluation. Injury rates were then analyzed as afunction of time. The injury rate remained constant at 3.7 injuries per 1000 skier-days during the 12 season. The reate4 of ower extremity to upper extreity injury decreaed from 4:1 to 2:1 druing the study period (p< 0.03). the ankle injury rate also decreased with time (P <0.04). Ulnar collateral ligament sprains make up 7% of all injures. Knee sprains in general account for 30% of all injuries. THe incidence of anteior cruciate ligament tears increased as a function of time (P < 0.04) and accounted for 16% of all skiing injuries during the study period. The medial collateral ligament sprain was the most common injury, making up 18% of skiing injuries. Forty-seven snowboard injuries from the 1992 to 1993 season are also presented. Our injury statistics mirror those currently reported in NOrth America, except our data reflec a higher incidence of knee sprains.

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Title: An overview of snow-boarding injuries
Author: Biasca, N; Battaglia, H; Simmen, HP; Dissler, P; Trentz, O
Source: Unfallachirurg. 1995 Jan; 98(1): 33-9

Abstract: Snowboarding is incresing dramatically in popularity i Switzerland as well as other countries. Work aimed at improving the design of the boards and of the boots and bindings has also increased rapidly druing recent yers. Most injured snowboarders are fit young men and boys who describe themselves as beginners and have have had a minimal amount of instruction at an officially approved training centre. Appropriate snowboard training has mostly been quite indadequate, adn protective devices (eg waterproofed support gloves). The anatomical distribution and the types of injuries sustained in snowboarding differ from those in alpine skiing. The wrist ( and forearm) and the ankle are the most frequent locations of injuries (23%) as against the knee adn thumb in alpine skiing. Sprains and strains were the mose frequent types of injureies (46%), followed by fractures (28%) and contusions (13.5%). The snowbard inury rate was higher than in alpine skiing. (1.7/1000 snowboard days versus 2-4/1000 sik days). Falling forward on the slope was the major mechanism of innjury (80%), and torsion the next most frequent (20%). Snowboarding injuries were sustained most often on ice and hardpacked snow, compared with soft powder snow for alpine skiing injuries. Appropriate preseason conditioning, snowboarding lessons from a certified instructor, appropriate selection of rigorously tested equipement and use of protective devices are the main steps that must be taken to prevent injuries.

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Title: Injuries in snowboarding - a propestive study
Author: Zollinger H; Gorschewsky, O; Cathrein,P
Source; Sportverletz-Sportschaden. 1994 Mar; 8(1): 31-7

Abstract: 180 patients with injureies effected through snowboarding were evaluated during a period of 2 1/2 months in both the hospitals and private surgeries of Oberwallis. This was done to determine the nature of the injureis and the risk factors that led to them. Snowboarders are on the average 21 years of age and only rarely over 40. One-thrid are women, adn two-third are men. More than half are beginners with less than one week's training experience, one-fifth of the beginners met with the accident on the first snowboard day. Over 80% of the injured said that riding m mistakes and insuffiecient training and instruction were the casue; rarely were the conditions of the runway blamed. The accidents happened irrespective of snow and runway conditions. Accidents due to tearing of the fastenings always injured the lowe extremity. Injuries of the upper and lower extremities take place i the same proportions. Injureis of the trunk and head are rare. Beginners usually injure the uppr, while good snowboarders the lower extremities. The most common injuries are radius fractures, followerd by ankle and knee distorsions. In the case of injureis to the lwoer extremities, the forward leg which is the skating leg or standing leg, is affected more than 80% of the cases.
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Title: Current status of spinal injureis in winter sports
Author: Genelin A; Kathrein A; Daniaux A; Lang, T; Seykora, P
Source: Schweiz-Z-Med-Traumatol. 1994(1): 17-20

Abstract: Parallel with marked escalation in the number of injuries of the skull, shoulder girdle and upper extremities in recent years, the incidence of spinal injuries as also intensified. This is due to an increse in speed and deceleration traumas, such as are particular to collison accidents. Of all patients with winter soports injuries at the Department of Traumatology at Innsbruck University Hospital, 4.9% have a spinal trauma. A retrospective ten-year study was undertaken to analyze the surgically teated spina injuries out of overall winter sports injureis. Between 1982 and 1992 862 spinal injuries were surgically treated, 10.9% (94) of which were suffered in winter sports accidents. The age group 15 to 25 years made up the largest contigent at 39.8% (37) . Most spinal traumas (47.3%), whether suffered in winter sports or not, were located in the thoracolumbear region or the lumbar part of the spine, followed by 38.7% at the cervical vertebrae. SErious snowboard accidents are expecially predestined for injuries of the cervial vertebrae. The age group 51 to 60 years also shows a trend to injure the cervical vertebrae; degenerative changes present i this age span cause a high percentage of acompanying neurological injuries. More than half (52.7%) of all surgically treated spinal injuries showed some loss or impairment of neurological function at the time of admission; 17.2% of these cases showed symptoms of a cmplete transverse lesion of the cord. 36% of all serious spinal injuries are accompained by secondary injuries (such as caraniocerebral trauma, thoracic trauma and other fractures).
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Title: Epidemiology of winter sport injuries
Author: Heim, D; Weymann,A; Loeliger,U; Matter,P
Source: Z-Unfallchir-Versicherungsmed. 1993, Suppl 1:16-31

Abstract: The region Davos/Klosters is a big wintersport area in Switzerland, where more than 5 million kilometers of bertical drop are skied per year. Over thelast 20 years 28,777 opatients with wintersport accidents have been treated in the 100-bed hostpital of Davos, 85% of these patients havve sustained thier accident while skiing. an analysis of these datas show an increase of ski accidents as well as an increase of the sistance skied. Especially an increse in snowboard accidents is noted over the last few years with a preponderance of lesions of the upper extremity. Injuries of the head, the trunk and simple skin lacerations remain stable over that period. Injuries of the upper extremity are increasing, whereas lower extremity lesions are slightly decressig. There is a significant decrease of fractures of the leg, while at the same time an important increaase of knee injuries is noted. Young patients below 20 years and those between 31 and 40 years of age sustained less accidents aover the last 20 years, while the rest of the alpine skiers remain more or less stable i their accident incidence. Return to Top of Page

Title: australian snowboard injury data base sutdy. A four-year prospective study.
Author: bladin, C; Giddings,P; robinson,M
Source: American Journal of Sports Medicine. 1993 Sep-Oct;21(5):701-4
Abstract: Information on the rate and spectrum of snowboarding injuries is limited. This 4-year prospective study of 3 major Australian ski resorts assesses incidence and patterns of snowboarding injuries, particularly in relation to skill level and footwear. Ski injury data were collected for the same period. In a predominantly male study population (men:women 3:1), 276 snowboarding injuries were reported; 58% occurred in novices. Fifty-seven percent of injureis were in the lower limbs, 30% in the upper limbs. The most common injuries were sprains (53%), fractures(24%), and contusions (12%). Comparing skiers versus snowboarders injuries, snowboarders had 2.4 times as many fractures, particularly to the upper limbs (21% versus 35% of upper olimb injuries), fewer knee injuries (23% brdud 44% of lower limb injures), but more ankle injureis (23% versus 6% of lower limbs). Ankle injureis were more common with soft-shell boots, worn most by intermediate and advanced riders. Knee injureis and distal tibial fractures were more common with hard-shell boots, worn most by novices. Overall, novices had more upper limb fractures and knee injuries; intermediate and advanced riders had more ankle injuries. Falls were the principal mode of injury. To prevent injury, beginners shoud use "hybrid" or shot-shell boots and take lessons. Return to Top of Page

Title: Injuries in snowboarding
Author: Skolic, P
Source: Z-unfallchir-Versicherungamed. 1990; 83(4):219-23

Abstract: Snowboarding is a quicly developing wintersport. The estimated number of snowboarders in Switzerland liest between 20,000 and 30,000 now. There has not been much published about trauma in this sport. This study was carried out in five Swiss hospitals in the winters 1988/89 and 1989/90. The reslt were compared with the data of traumatologically oriented general practice. The pattern of trauma wasalmost identical, and quite similar to the injuries in skisport. With further development of the nsowboard technique and material a change of type and decrease of number of injuries in this sport can be expected. Return to Top of Page

Title: Snowboard Injuries
Author: Pino, EC; Colville, MR
Source: Am-J-Sports-Med. 1989 Nov-Dec; 17(6): 778-81

Abstract: A retrospective survey of 267 snowboarder was undertakenm to determine the population at risk and types and mechanisms of injuies sustained in this sport. Snowboarders are young (average age 21 years), male (greater than 90%), and have varied themselves in average or above average physical condition (96%), and have varied sports interests. One hundred ten injuries that resulted in a physician visit were reported. Ligament sprains, fractures, and contusions were the most frequent type of injury. Fifty percent of all injues occurred i the lower extremeities, with ankleinjuries being themost common. Snowboard reiders using equipement with increased anle support seem to be more protected from lower extremity injuries. The lwer extremity injuries were concentratred in the forward limb of the snowboarder, whre the rider's wieght is disproportionately distributed. Differences in the mechanism and spectrum of injury between snowboarding and skiing injures were noted, including: impact rather thantorsion as the major mechanism of injury, a significant lack of thumb injuries, comparative increase in ankle injures, a decrease in knee injuries, and a higher percentage of upper extremity injuries. Return to Top of Page

Title: Snowboarding Injuries
Author: Gabl, M; Lng,T; Pechlaner, S; Sailer, R Source: Sportverletz-Sportschanden. 1991 Dec: 5(4): 172-4

Abstract: this retrospective study includes 59 peple treated at our trauma centre for snowboard accidents that happened in the 1989 winter season. 22 people were severely injured. 2 people died due to a polytrauma. One fracture of the cervical vertebrate column was followed by comlete hemiplegia. Reasons for these accidents were a lack of knowledge how to behave outside the marked alpine regions, as well as lack of technical equipment and theoretical education. Return to Top of Page

Title: Snowboarding injuries: an analysis and comparison with alpine skiing injuries
Author: Abu-Laban,RB
Source: Can-Med-Assoc-J. 1991 Nov 1; 145(9): 1097-103

Abstract: Objective: To analyse the types and causes of injures associated with recreational snowboarding and to compare these iwth the injuries seen in Alpine skiing.
Design: Prospective case series
Setting: Rural hospital near three large ski resorts.
Patients: All people presenting to the Emergency Department with an injury caused by snowboarding during two ski seasons (1988-90. Of the 115 injured snowboarders identified, 73(63%) completed the questionnnaire. Information on the other patients was obtained from the hospital emergency records. Information was also obtained on seven alpine skiers who collided with snowboarders.
Results: Of the snowboarders 87(76%) were male, and themean age ws 20.3 years. A total of 132 injures were documented. Of the respondents to the questionnaire 83% repoted that their fitness level was excellent or above average, 36% had never been on a nsowboard previously, 25% were in their frist year of snowboarding, 39% reported excellent snow conditions, 59% reported light traffic on the hill, adn 7% had consumed alcholo before thier accident. Injures were equally divided between the upper body and the legs, 75% of the lower limb injures involving the lift(lead) leg. Significan differnces were noted between the patterns of injures in snowboarding and alpine skiing: snowboarders were less likely to have lacerations (0% versus 8%), boot-top contusions (0% vs 4%), thumb injuries (1% vs 10%) and knee sprains (14% vs 27%) and more likely to hve spinal injuries(10% vs1%), foot or ankle injuries (28% vs 5%) and distal radius fracturs (10% vs1%).
Conclusion: Snowboarding is associated with a unique pattern of injureis, the knowledge of which could influence snowboarder education, accident prevention and equipment design. Additional research is needed to understad better the types, causes adn rates of injury associatied with snowboarding. Return to Top of Page


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