Orthopedic injuries related to snowmobile use

To document the locations of injury, frequency of associated injuries, and need for operative intervention in patients presenting to a tertiary medical center after sustaining an orthopedic injury related to snowmobile use.

Retrospective review.

Tertiary care center with level I trauma designation in southern Minnesota.

Seventy-eight patients who sustained orthopedic injuries from snowmobile accidents between January 1985 and December 1996 were treated at our institution. Information regarding patient demographics and injury characteristics was collected. These data were stratified into patient populations presenting directly to the emergency department (n = 47) and those referred from outside hospitals (n = 31).

A total of 209 injuries (118 fractures, 31 orthopedic soft-tissue injuries, and 60 nonorthopaedic injuries) were diagnosed within the study population. Tibia (n = 20), radius (n = 14), ulna (n = 12), and spine (n = 14) fractures accounted for half of the fractures reported. There were 13 open fractures. Twenty-four fractures were treated operatively. Ligament injuries to the knees (n = 7) and compartment syndrome of the lower extremity (n = 5) represented the most common orthopedic soft-tissue injuries. The acromioclavicular joint was the most frequently dislocated joint (n = 4). Associated injuries commonly involved the head (n = 17), abdomen (n = 13), and chest (n = 9). As compared to patients presenting directly to the emergency department, referred patients on average had a statistically greater number of total injuries, total operations, and operations for fractures.

Snowmobile accidents represent a frequent cause of orthopedic injuries in northern regions. An understanding of these injuries may help emergency departments prepare for patients injured on these machines. Recognition of the most common orthopedic injuries may help in the design of safer snowmobiles.