SKI Injuries in Scotland a Review of Statistics from Cairngorm SKI Area Winter 1993/94

Abstract

Scottish skiing is a growth industry-nearly all acute ski injuries in Aviemore are managed initially by local general practitioners. This study set out to examine the nature and incidence of ski injuries in one Scottish ski resort, and to calculate the additional workload generated for the health centre, ambulance service and local hospital. During the study period, the winter ski season of 1993-94, a prospective study was made of the 486 acute ski injuries presenting to Aviemore Health Centre. Despite frequently poor weather conditions, the season's injury rate for Cairngorm was 2.43 per 1000 skier days which compares favourably with statistics from other ski centres world-wide. The anatomical pattern of injuries for both downhill skiing and snowboarding was similar to that of other countries. Knee injuries constituted nearly one third of all cases. 8% of injuries involved the ski lift machinery. 31% of casualties underwent radiographic examination, 17% needed hospital referral and 7% required admission to hospital. The management of acute ski injuries can be performed effectively in the primary care setting. It has significant benefits in rural areas by rationalising the use of ambulance and hospital services.

Snow sports injuries in Scotland: a case-control study

“…Two previous publications have reported on the patterns of injury seen at separate Scottish ski areas. 12 13 The results were comparable to those from other areas, but both had limitations in their study design, principally the lack of control data. Subsequently, there has been a perceived growth in the popularity of snowboarding and skiboarding in Scotland.…”

“…In 1994, snowboarders accounted for only 4% of the injured population at Cairngorm. 12 Although we registered relatively few on piste telemark ski injuries, many participants ski away from designated ski areas, and the injury rate in this population in Scotland remains unknown. Males comprised the majority of all our injured groups, but we found no difference between the sex constituencies of any injured and control group.…”

Increased Injury Risk among First-Day Skiers, Snowboarders, and Skiboarders

“…The overall risk of injury at a Scottish ski area has been consistently demonstrated to be comparable with that of other areas worldwide. 22,23,32 Several independent risk factors for snow sports injury in Scotland have been identified, including 1st-day participation and age younger than 16 years. 23 This larger study has confirmed our previous finding of an excess injury risk among FDP and has identified several independent risk factors for injury among this population.…”

“…The higher rate of head and facial injuries among non-FDP skiers can be at least partially explained by the fact that, in Scotland, the majority of these injuries result from a carelessly discarded T-bar. 22 Given their inherent difficulty in use, these lifts are unlikely to be used by FDP skiers. Most ski injuries were soft-tissue sprains, and skiing has the lowest incidence of fractures among the three snow sports, with FDP skiers being at least risk.…”