SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1985
STP46653S

Head Injuries in Alpine Skiing

Source

Out of 2259 patients treated at Lindvallen and Granfjällsstöten in Sälen, Sweden, during three winter seasons, 258 sought medical advice for head injuries. Of these, 159 sustained their injuries during skiing and 99 in the lift tracks or lift queues. The most common injury mechanisms were falls, collisions, and blows from swinging T-bars in the lifts. About 30% of the patients injured by a fall or a collision showed signs of concussion, and the corresponding figure for patients injured on ski lifts was 7%. There was 1 death from collision with a tree at high speed. Measures recommended for reduction of the number of head injuries include the following: information on the importance of ski school training and on the traffic rules of skiing, supervision by ski patrols, barring of obviously incapable skiers, restriction of the number of skiers on the slopes, avoidance of piste crossings, and, if necessary, speed restriction in certain areas.

Author Information

Lindsjö, Ulf
University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
Hellquist, Einar
University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
Engkvist, Ove
University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
Balkfors, Bengt
Malmo General Hospital, Malmo, Sweden
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Details
Developed by Committee: F27
Pages: 375–381
DOI: 10.1520/STP46653S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-6832-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-6833-6