Injuries of the head, face, and neck in relation to ski helmet use.
BACKGROUND
The extent to which helmet use reduces the risk of injury in ski- and snowboard-related accidents is unclear. We studied the association of helmet use with injuries of the head, face, and neck among skiers and snowboarders involved in falls and collisions.


METHODS
We conducted a case-control study, using ski patrol injury reports for the years 2000-2005 from 3 ski resorts in the western United States. We identified all skiers and snowboarders involved in falls or collisions who received care from the ski patrol. Helmet use among persons with injuries of the head (n = 2537), face (n = 1122), or neck (n = 565) was compared with helmet use among those involved in falls and collisions who received care for injuries below the neck (n = 17,674). We calculated odds ratios for head, face, and neck injury among helmeted compared with unhelmeted persons.


RESULTS
The adjusted odds ratios were 0.85 for head injury (95% confidence interval = 0.76-0.95), 0.93 for facial injury (0.79-1.09), and 0.91 for neck injury (0.72-1.14).


CONCLUSIONS
Helmets may provide some protection from head injury among skiers and snowboarders involved in falls or collisions.
Mueller
Beth A
BA
Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center, School of Public Health & Community Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Cummings
Peter
P
Rivara
Frederick P
FP
Brooks
M Alison
MA
Terasaki
Rodney D
RD
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006260:Head Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D019601:Pacific States / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012865:Skiing / Q000293:injuries*