Risk Factors for Injuries During Military Static-Line Airborne Operations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Objective: To identify and analyze articles in which the authors examined risk factors for soldiers during military staticline airborne operations.Data Sources: We searched for articles in PubMed, the Defense Technical Information Center, reference lists, and other sources using the key words airborne, parachuting, parachutes, paratrooper, injuries, wounds, trauma, and musculoskeletal.Study Selection: The search identified 17 684 potential studies. Studies were included if they were written in English, involved military static-line parachute operations, recorded injuries directly from events on the landing zone or from safety or medical records, and provided data for quantitative assessment of injury risk factors. A total of 23 studies met the review criteria, and 15 were included in the meta-analysis.Data Extraction: The summary statistic obtained for each risk factor was the risk ratio, which was the ratio of the injury risk in 1 group to that of another (baseline) group. Where data were sufficient, meta-analyses were performed and heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed.Data Synthesis: Risk factors for static-line parachuting injuries included night jumps, jumps with extra equipment, higher wind speeds, higher air temperatures, jumps from fixedwing aircraft rather than balloons or helicopters, jumps onto certain types of terrain, being a female paratrooper, greater body weight, not using the parachute ankle brace, smaller parachute canopies, simultaneous exits from both sides of an aircraft, higher heat index, winds from the rear of the aircraft on exit entanglements, less experience with a particular parachute system, being an enlisted soldier rather than an officer, and jumps involving a greater number of paratroopers.Conclusions: We analyzed and summarized factors that increased the injury risk for soldiers during military static-line parachute operations. Understanding and considering these factors in risk evaluations may reduce the likelihood of injury during parachuting.Key Words: parachutes, parachuting, wind speed, night, temperature, parachute ankle brace, terrain, wounds, trauma, musculoskeletal Key PointsRisk factors associated with military static-line airborne operations included night jumps, jumps with extra equipment, higher wind speeds, higher air temperatures, winds from the rear of the aircraft on exit, jumps from fixedwing aircraft, jumps onto certain types of terrain, being a female paratrooper, not using the parachute ankle brace, smaller parachute canopies, simultaneous exits from both sides of an aircraft, entanglements, being an enlisted soldier, and jumps involving a greater number of paratroopers. Trainers, operators, and medical personnel should consider these risk factors in their injury-risk evaluations and during specific airborne maneuvers to help paratroopers arrive safely at the battleground. P erhaps the most ancient of tactical athletes is the infantry soldier. Since the beginning of recorded history, men have faced each other in combat, first with edged and blunt w...

Orthopedic injuries due to parachute jumping in soldiers and the effect of trauma scoring systems in determining injury level: A prospective observational study

“…1-3). Table 2 Distribution of trauma site, injury site, diagnosis and treatment method applied according to ISS n (%) (5,9) Descriptive statistics are given as numbers (%).…”

“…In the study where A.Westman et al examined the deadly events due to free fall between 1981-2006, Building-Antenna-Span-Earth jumping(BASE), due to reasons related to human, environment and equipment (parachute-related problems, due to reverse airflow, loss of vision due to weather, or acrobatic movements), deaths have been reported (6). Similar factors have been reported to be effective in injuries, as well as high rates of injury during nighttime jumps (9). In the literature studies, the wrong landing technique was mentioned as the most common cause of injury (4,19).…”

“…In these injuries, it is known that the factors such as the altitude, performing the jump at night, the equipment and technique used, the factors about the plane, the selected parachute type, the weather and environmental factors, the personal factors (age, weight, height, experience, aircraft leaving technique, loss of control, etc.) and the ground are effective (3,(6)(7)(8)(9)(10). Most of the parachuting accidents and fatal injuries are known to occur at low altitude and sudden turns (3,4,8).…”

A novel prophylactic parachute ankle brace CPAB

“…The half-squat parachute landing (HSPL) posture has been adopted by Chinese paratroops [2,3]. When compared with the sideways roll parachute landing fall, the HSPL method may reduce the probability of asynchronous landings on either the left or right foot [4]. In this maneuver, the upper body is in a neutral stance, and the lower extremities are in a half-squat position, with the legs slightly bent and extended forward.…”

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