Abstract
We investigated the relationship between the severity of ski injuries (n=895) classified according to the abbreviated injury score (AIS; based on objective criteria for judging the severity of injuries) and the following factors: sex, site and mode of injury, skill level, speed at the time of injury, binding release, gradient, type of snow, surface conditions, weather, visibility, and the month and day of the week on which the injury was sustained. Age, sex, mode and site of injury, speed at the time of injury, binding release, visibility, and the month and day of the week on which the injury was sustained were associated with the severity of injuries, but the skill level, gradient, type of snow, surface conditions, and weather were not. Injuries with an AIS of 4 or higher accounted for only 4.6% of injuries (AIS scores range from 1; e.g., mild sprains, to a maximum of 6; injuries with scores of 4 and above are regarded as life-threatening). Given that patients with very severe injuries tend to be taken to our facility, the actual incidence of severe ski injuries may be even lower. However, measures to protect against severe injuries are needed to ensure greater safety for skiers.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Civil ID, Schwab CW. The abbreviated injury scale, 1985 revision: A condensed chart for clinical use. J Trauma 1988;28:87–90.
Hauser W, Asang E, Müller B. Injury risk in Alpine skiing. In: Johnson RJ, Mote CD Jr, editors. Skiing trauma and safety: Fifth International Symposium. Philadelphia: American Society for Testing and Materials, 1985:338–48.
Jenkins R, Johnson RJ, Pope MH. Collision injuries in downhill skiing. In: Johnson RJ, Mote CD Jr., editors Skiing Trauma and Safety: Fifth International Symposium, Philadelphia: American Society for Testing and Materials, 1985:358–66.
Johnson RJ, Ettlinger CF. Alpine ski injuries: Changes through the years. Clin Sports Med 1982;1:181–97.
Jurkovich GJ, Pearce WH, Cleveland HC. Thoracic and abdominal injuries in skiers: The role of air evacuation. J Trauma 1983; 23:844–8.
Matter P, Ziegler WJ, Holzach P. Skiing accidents in the past 15 years. J Sports Sci 1987;5:319–26.
Morrow PL, McQuillen EN, Eaton LA Jr et al. Downhill ski fatalities: The Vermont experience. J Trauma 1988;28:95–100.
Myles ST, Mohtadi NGH, Schnittker J. Injuries to the nervous system and spine in downhill skiing. Can J Surg 1992;35:643–8.
Oh S, Ruedi M. Depressed skull fracture in skiing and its experimental study. Int J Sports Med 1982;3:169–73.
Oh S. Cervical injury from skiing. Int J Sports Med 1984;5:268–71.
Pliskin M, D'Angelo M. Atypical downhill skiing injuries. J Trauma 1988;28:520–2.
Scharplatz D, Thurleman K, Enderlin, F. Thoracoabdominal trauma in ski accidents. Injury 1979;10:86–91.
Shealy JE. Death in downhill skiing. In: Johnson RJ, Mote CD Jr, editors. Skiing trauma and safety: Fifth International Symposium. Philadelphia: American Society for Testing and Materials, 1985: 349–357.
Sherry E. Hip dislocations from skiing. Med J Aust 1987:227–8.
Sherry E, Clou L. Deaths associated with skiing in Australia: A 32-year study of cases from the Snowy Mountains. Med J Aust 1988;149:615–8.
Sherry E, Fenelon L. Trends in skiing injury type and rates in Australia. A review of 22 261 injuries over 27 years in the Snowy Mountains. Med J Aust 1991;155:513–5.
Spezia P, Brennan R, Brugman JL, et al. Femur fractures in alpine skiers. J Orthop Trauma 1992;6:443–7.
Yvars MF, Kanner HR. Ski fractures of femur. Am J Sports Med 1984;12:386–90.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
About this article
Cite this article
Takakuwa, T., Endo, S. Factors determining the severity of ski injuries. J Orthop Sci 2, 367–371 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02488923
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02488923