[Causes of accidents and injuries in cross-country skiing]

335 cross-country skiing accidents which occurred during the last five skiing seasons, are evaluated. The overall number of accidents has increased slightly. Their severity and incidence depends significantly on the age and state of training of the injured person. Typical fractures are most frequent at the upper extremity, whereas damage of the capsular ligament of the knee joint is by far the most frequent lesion at the lower extremity. Severe and extremely severe injuries occur besides many trifling ones.