title: The Current State of Head and Neck Injuries in Extreme Sports.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since their conception during the mid-1970s, international participation in extreme sports has grown rapidly. The recent death of extreme snowmobiler Caleb Moore at the 2013 Winter X Games has demonstrated the serious risks associated with these sports.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the incidence and prevalence of head and neck injuries (HNIs) in extreme sports.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive epidemiological study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) was used to acquire data from 7 sports (2000-2011) that were included in the Winter and Summer X Games. Data from the NEISS database were collected for each individual sport per year and type of HNI. Cumulative data for overall incidence and injuries over the entire 11-year period were calculated. National estimates were determined using NEISS-weighted calculations. Incidence rates were calculated for extreme sports using data from Outdoor Foundation Participation Reports.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 4 million injuries were reported between 2000 and 2011, of which 11.3% were HNIs. Of all HNIs, 83% were head injuries and 17% neck injuries. The 4 sports with the highest total incidence of HNI were skateboarding (129,600), snowboarding (97,527), skiing (83,313), and motocross (78,236). Severe HNI (cervical or skull fracture) accounted for 2.5% of extreme sports HNIs. Of these, skateboarding had the highest percentage of severe HNIs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number of serious injuries suffered in extreme sports has increased as participation in the sports continues to grow. A greater awareness of the dangers associated with these sports offers an opportunity for sports medicine and orthopaedic physicians to advocate for safer equipment, improved on-site medical care, and further research regarding extreme sports injuries.
authors.affiliation: Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Vinay K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rango
authors.affiliation: Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Alexander J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Connaughton
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Vani J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Sabesan
keywords: concussions; epidemiology; extreme sports; head and neck injuries