Kite surfing: epidemiology of trauma

Kite surfing has become an increasingly popular recreational activity worldwide. Thrill seekers can span the water at high speeds and reach great heights risking injury and death. We report the case of a young kite surfer who sustained a fracture dislocation of the right acetabulum that required specialised surgical management. We present this case with a review of the literature outlining the incidence of pelvic and acetabular fractures in the kitesurfing community. Overall, there is a low incidence of pelvic fractures in comparison with other orthopaedic traumas reported among kite surfers, and the most commonly injured sites are the foot and ankle. Emergency departments should be alert to this activity and its associated injury patterns due to its ever-increasing popularity.