Snowdome, skiers and boarders: accident and emergency experience

A prospective case series was compiled of all people presenting to the accident and emergency department with an injury caused by snowboarding or skiing, during the first year of opening of the Milton Keynes snowdome. The aim was to analyse the types of injuries associated with recreational snowboarding and to compare these with the injuries seen in skiing. Of the snowboarders, 23 (86%) were males, and the mean age was 24 years. Of the skiers, 13 (81%) were males, and the mean age was 34 years. Forty-three injuries required orthopaedic review, and 12 were admitted for further management. Significant differences were noted between the patterns of injuries in snowboarding and skiing. The snowboarders had a higher incidence of upper limb injuries (96 vs. 62%) and a lower incidence of lower limb injuries (4 vs. 38%) compared to the skiers. This study demonstrates that the opening of a leisure facility has a significant impact on the local accident and emergency department. Snowboarding is associated with a unique pattern of injuries, the knowledge of which should influence education and accident prevention.