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Paediatric injuries on an artificial ski slope
1Department of Accident and Emergency, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
Injury
|March 1, 1995
Summary
Children skiing on artificial slopes experience a high rate of injuries, particularly fractures to the upper limbs and thumbs. Safety measures are recommended to reduce these risks for young skiers.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Pediatric Orthopedics
- Public Health
Background:
- Artificial ski slopes are popular for children's winter sports.
- Injury rates and patterns in young skiers on these slopes are not well-documented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence and types of injuries sustained by children on an artificial ski slope.
- To identify risk factors and propose safety improvements.
Main Methods:
- A 1-year prospective study was conducted.
- Injury data was collected from 112 children, totaling 116 injuries.
- Injury rates were calculated per hour of skiing.
Main Results:
- The injury rate was 1 per 394 hours of skiing.
- 52 fractures were recorded, with a 4.5:1 ratio of upper to lower limb injuries.
- Thumb injuries were most common; severe injuries occurred from barrier collisions.
Conclusions:
- The injury rate for children on artificial ski slopes is unacceptably high.
- Recommendations include increased supervision, controlled numbers, thumbless mittens, and improved slope/barrier safety features.
- Children's specific needs must be considered in adapting adult sports.