title: Severe and polytraumatic injuries among recreational skiers and snowboarders:  incidence, demographics and injury patterns in South Tyrol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alpine skiing and snowboarding are popular winter sports. The practice of these sports is related to traumatic injuries, some of which are severe and/or life threatening.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify the incidence, injury patterns and associated risk factors of severe and polytraumatic injuries in South Tyrol.
  
  
  METHODS
  During four consecutive winter seasons (2001-2005), data of every patient referred to our emergency department (Bolzano-Bozen) after a skiing or snowboarding accident were collected. One hundred and five patients with an Injury Severity Score of 16 or higher were identified (90 skiers, 15 snowboarders). Statistical descriptive analyses were carried out by producing frequency tables. Chi-square test was performed to verify possible association between injury severity and type of sport. Risk factors for severe injuries were evaluated using logistic regression with robust variance estimators.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Traumatic brain injury was the most common injury observed (51 cases), followed by vertebral injury (45 cases); 63% of the patients reported two or more associated injuries. We observed significant associations between severe spine injuries and the following risk factors: snowboarders who reported more severe injuries than skiers [odds ratio=5.89, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.31, 26.44], age classes of 40-50 years and over 60 years showed an OR of 8.10 (95% CI=1.87, 35.06) and 5.16 (95% CI=1.27, 21.01), respectively, with respect to age class (20-40 years).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Severe traumatic injuries occur among skiers and snowboarders, and preventive measures such as the use of helmets and educational programs, are necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency, Regional Hospital, Bolzano-Bozen, South Tyrol, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Corra
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Girardi
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Giorgi
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Braggion
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D017052:Hospital Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011998:Recreation; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012865:Skiing / Q000293:injuries*; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult