Gender differences in snowboarding accidents in Austria: a 2005–2018 registry analysis

Abstract

ObjectivesTo elucidate gender differences in snowboarding accidents.DesignRetrospective registry analysis within the Austrian National Registry of Mountain Accidents.SettingSnowboard-related emergencies between November 2005 and October 2018.ParticipantsAll injured snowboarders with documented injury severity and gender (3536 men; 2155 women).Primary and secondary outcome measuresGender-specific analysis of emergency characteristics and injury patterns.ResultsOver time, the number of mild, severe and fatal injuries per season decreased in men but not in women. Accidents most frequently were interindividual collisions (>80%) and occurred when heading downhill on a slope. Men more often suffered injuries to the shoulder (15.1% vs 9.2%) and chest (6.8% vs 4.4%), were involved in accidents caused by falling (12.9% vs 9.6%) or obstacle impact (4.3% vs 1.5%), while on slopes with higher difficulty levels (red: 42.6% vs 39.9%; black: 4.2% vs 2.5%), while snowboarding in a park (4.8% vs 2.1%) and under the influence of alcohol (1.6% vs 0.5%). Women more often sustained injuries to the back (10.2% vs 13.1%) and pelvis (2.9% vs 4.2%), on easier slopes (blue: 46.1% vs 52.4%) and while standing or sitting (11.0% vs 15.8%). Mild injuries were more frequent in women (48.6% vs 56.4%), severe and fatal injuries in men (36.0% vs 29.7% and 0.9% vs 0.4%). Male gender, age and the use of a helmet were risk factors for the combined outcome of severe or fatal injuries (OR (99% CI): 1.22 (1.00 to 1.48), 1.02 (1.02 to 1.03) and 1.31 (1.05 to 1.63)). When wearing a helmet, the relative risk (RR) for severe injuries increased while that for mild injuries decreased in male snowboarders only (RR (95% CI): 1.21 (1.09 to 1.34) and 0.88 (0.83 to 0.95)).ConclusionsSnowboard injuries are proportionally increasing in women and the observed injury patterns and emergency characteristics differ substantially from those of men. Further gender-specific research in snowboard-related injuries should be encouraged.Trial registration numberNCT03755050.

Characteristics of Fatal Accidents due to Exogenous Causes at Ski Resorts in Japan Over the Past 13 Years: A Retrospective Descriptive Study

“…20 Rugg et al reported snowboard accidents in Austria; 44 fatal injuries were observed over a 13-y study period, mostly caused by inter-individual collisions, with 33 cases in males. 21 Compared with studies conducted in ski resorts in other countries, our results are similar in that they were more common among people in their 40s, more common among males, and reported collisions with objects as the cause of approximately 40% of all traumatic injuries.…”

An Epidemiologic Comparison of Injuries to Skiers and Snowboarders Treated at United States Emergency Departments, 2000–2019

“…Earlier studies attribute the rising injury rates among snowboarders to the relative novelty of the sport [22], with Rust et al finding that the introduction of snowboarding to Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico in 2008 resulted in a statistically significant increase in injury rates [28]. However, in the last decade, Rugg et al reported a decline in overall snowboarding injuries in Austria [29]. Our data from 2010- 2019 reflects this trend, with a sharp decline in snowboarding injuries (▶Fig.…”

“…Among male skiers and snowboarders, adolescents under 18 sustained the most injuries closely followed by adults 18-40 years. Prior studies have also demonstrated this younger male predominance among skiers and snowboarders and their propensity to take higher risks [28,29,33,37].…”

“…However, our results reveal that the most common injuries among this age group are wrist (9.2 % in women; 17.2 % in men) and forearm (9.5 % in women; 11.5 % in men). This is most likely due to the fact that snowboarding is more popular among younger populations and they tend to break their fall with an outstretched arm [28][29][30]. Advancements in ski binding technology such as lateral toe and vertical heel release mechanisms likely explains the reduced frequency of lower extremity fractures [30,32].…”

“…more popular among younger populations and they tend to break their fall with an outstretched arm [28][29][30]. Advancements in ski binding technology such as lateral toe and vertical heel release mechanisms likely explains the reduced frequency of lower extremity fractures [30,32].…”