Sledging-related injuries within a dedicated sledging area of a commercial ski area presenting to a pre-hospital clinic

Abstract

Introduction

Sledging-related injuries represent a significant workload at ski area medical centres across the world. Although safety rules exist, they are rarely obeyed and enforced. The purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence, severity and pattern of sledging-related injuries at a New Zealand ski resort, in order to set up injury prevention measures.

Methods

All sledging-related injuries presenting during an 80-day period (of a 90-day winter season) were retrospectively reviewed. The last 10 days of the season were excluded as the sledging areas were closed due to lack of snow. Patient demographics, mechanism of injury, diagnosis and treatments were retrospectively identified from the medical records and recorded on a database.

Results

A total of 8,655 people used the sledging area during the study period. Sixty patients with sledging-related injuries were identified, with a mean age of 10 years (range 4–30 years). The incidence of sledging-related injuries requiring medical attention was 0.7%, of those, 23% required hospitalisation. Injury mechanisms comprised collisions with other sledge users (21), collision with a wall (14) and falling from a sledge (14). The sites of injury included head (36), lower limb (18), spine (9), upper limb (7) and abdomen (2). Fractures included femur (1), tibia (1), fibula (1), ankle (2), cuboid (1), clavicle (2) and scaphoid (1). One patient sustained a serious intracranial haemorrhage with subsequent permanent neurological sequelae.

Conclusion

Sledging-related injuries were mostly minor; however, major injuries do occur, requiring intervention at secondary centres. The potential for serious morbidity is evident. Recommendations supporting injury prevention measures do exist; however, the study population did not implement these. The use of helmets would seem an appropriate minimum level of protection, together with appropriate supervision and greater sledging safety awareness should be encouraged. We believe this to be the first published material examining injuries within the potentially very controllable dedicated sledging zone of a ski area.