Downhill skiing injuries in children

The objective of our study was to compare injuries sustained by a large group of children to those of injured adults and a control population of skiers selected from the Sugarbush North ski area in northern Vermont. We reviewed all 3182 injuries which occurred over nine ski seasons (1972 to 1973 thr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American journal of sports medicine 1984-03, Vol.12 (2), p.142-147
Main Authors: Blitzer, Charles M., Johnson, Robert J., Ettlinger, Carl F., Aggeborn, Kristina
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Ankle Injuries
Athletic Injuries - epidemiology
Child
Craniocerebral Trauma - epidemiology
Foot Injuries
Humans
Knee Injuries - epidemiology
Prospective Studies
Risk
Skiing
Spinal Injuries - epidemiology
Sprains and Strains - epidemiology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Thumb - injuries
Tibial Fractures - epidemiology
Vermont
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Summary:The objective of our study was to compare injuries sustained by a large group of children to those of injured adults and a control population of skiers selected from the Sugarbush North ski area in northern Vermont. We reviewed all 3182 injuries which occurred over nine ski seasons (1972 to 1973 through 1980 to 1981) at Su garbush North. Six hundred and ninety-six (22%) of these injuries occurred in children 16 years of age or younger. For all injuries combined, those under 11 years of age had the same rate of injury as adults. Adoles cents had a higher injury rate. Foot and ankle injuries were more common in younger children. Knee injuries made up one-fifth of all injuries in all age groups and in older skiers tended to be relatively more serious. Tibia fractures were more prevalent in younger skiers and declined in all age groups over the period of study. Head and spine injuries comprised 6.2% of the pediatric injuries, and were more prevalent in children than in adults. Upper body injuries were less common in chil dren than in adults. We found height, weight, and proximal tibial diameter to vary with age, but in any given age group there was no significant difference with injury type or the controls. Skiers with less skill or experience had a higher incidence of injuries than more experienced skiers or the control population. Injured skiers in all age groups were less likely to own their equipment. Adjustment of equipment by a professional or the skier did not vary with age or injury type.
ISSN:0363-5465
1552-3365
DOI:10.1177/036354658401200210