Snowboarding-related abdominal trauma in children

Our aim was to identify the demographics, mechanism, and patterns of injury in children presenting with snowboarding injuries.

We conducted a retrospective chart review on children aged 6 to 21 years presenting to our level 1 pediatric trauma center between January 2000 and March 2007 with snowboarding-related injury. E-codes for snowboarding injuries identified patients. Statistical analyses included χ and t tests.

Our study identified 213 patients, of whom 79% were male and 55% were in the 12- to 14-year age group. Presenting injuries included those to the head/neck (27%), trunk (19%), upper extremity (58%), or lower extremity (10%). Of the children with abdominal trauma, 74% involved injury to the abdominal organs, most commonly the spleen (n = 11). Falls from an elevation of more than 3 ft were not significantly associated with organ injury. Females were more likely to have pelvic injury (P < 0.001), and males were more likely to have abdominal injury (P < 0.001). Males were more likely to have fractures (P < 0.01) and less likely to have a head injury (P < 0.05). Younger children aged 6 to 14 years were more likely to have abdominal injury (P < 0.05), whereas older patients aged 15 to 21 years were more likely to have pelvic injury (P < 0.05). There is a significant relationship between fractures or dislocations of the upper extremity and associated abdominal or pelvic trauma (P = 0.003).

Young male snowboarders are at risk for having abdominal organ injury and upper extremity injury. There is a high incidence of children presenting with both upper extremity and abdominal trauma after a fall while snowboarding.