Serious parasport injuries in Auckland, New Zealand.
OBJECTIVE
Parasports' comprise parachuting, skydiving, paragliding, parapenting, parascending, parasailing and hang-gliding, and may involve rapid deceleration on landing. The aims of this study were to determine the spectrum of parasport-related trauma presenting to Auckland City Hospital and to make recommendations to reduce further injury.


METHODS
The Auckland City Hospital Trauma Registry was used to identify all patients requiring admission with serious injury as a result of parasport incidents over an 8-year period. Demographic and injury-related data were then analysed.


RESULTS
Parachuting/skydiving was responsible for 66% of all serious parasport injuries and 96% of patients were men. Fractures of the lower limbs and lumbar spine were the predominant injuries. Misjudgement of landing speed and attitude resulting in injurious landing forces were the usual causes of injury.


CONCLUSIONS
The magnitude of serious parasport-related trauma is greater than that indicated by previous studies in New Zealand. Appropriate use of protective clothing and close attention to safe flight planning and landing techniques may reduce the injury rate without degrading the experience of flight.
Christey
Grant R
GR
Trauma Services, Auckland City Hospital, Grafton, Auckland, New Zealand. christey@clear.net.nz
D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D001359:Aviation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000453:epidemiology; D015984:Causality; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D022125:Lacerations / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000453:epidemiology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology