Aim
This study describes the epidemiology of severe injuries related to winter sports (skiing, snowboarding and sledding) in children and assesses potential preventive actions.
Methods
A single‐centre retrospective study performed at Pediatric or Adult Intensive Care Unit in the French Alps. All patients less than 15 years old, admitted to the Intensive Care Unit following a skiing, snowboarding or sledding accident from 2011 to 2018, were included.
Results
We included 186 patients (mean age 10.6 years and 68% were male); of which 136 (73%), 21 (11%) and 29 (16%) had skiing, snowboarding and sledding accidents, respectively. The average ISS (injury severity score) was 16. The major lesions were head (n = 94 patients, 51%) and intra‐abdominal (n = 56 patients, 30%) injuries. Compared to skiing/snowboarding, sledding accidents affected younger children (7 vs 11 years, P < .001); most of whom did not wear a helmet (89% vs 8%, P < .001). Severity scores were statistically different amongst winter sports (ISS = 16 (IQR 9‐24) for skiing, 9 (IQR 4‐16) for snowboarding and 16 (IQR 13‐20) for sledding accident, P = .02).
Conclusion
Winter sports can cause severe trauma in children. Sledding accidents affect younger children that may benefit from wearing protective equipment.
Environmental factors associated with severe pediatric trauma following winter sport injuries. Number of patients is presented on the right y-axis. Snow depth (cm) and cumulative fresh snowfalls (cm) are presented on the left y-axis in dark and light blue, respectively | 2015
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