title: Annual trauma load of the world's largest indoor skiing center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is limited data on the trauma load caused by indoor skiing centers. Therefore, all patients treated at the accident and emergency department of our level I trauma center who sustained injuries at the world's largest indoor skiing center were analyzed during a 3-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Business intelligence was used to identify all patients who sustained injury at SnowWorld, Landgraaf, The Netherlands, and were seen at the accident and emergency department of the Zuyderland Medical Center from January 1, 2012 till December 31, 2014. Data were collected on patient characteristics, trauma mechanism, transportation, admission, diagnostics, injury and its severity, and treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 732 patients seen, 305 had a fracture and 80 a dislocation. Most patients were male snowboarders and most injuries were sustained during winter. More than 2000 X-rays and 100 CT scans were required. Seventy-two patients were admitted and immediate surgery was performed in 21 patients. Ten patients had Injury Severity Scores of 10 or higher. Snowboarders differed significantly from skiers on several parameters, e.g., 1 in 4 snowboarders seen had sustained a distal radius fracture compared to 1 in 100 skiers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acquiring more insight into the characteristics of this specific patient population could benefit clinical care and help clinicians identify and target preventive strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  IV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Zuyderland Medical Center, Henri Dunantstraat 5, 6419 PC, Heerlen, The Netherlands. simon_van_laarhoven@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: S N
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7625-4259
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Van Laarhoven
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Zuyderland Medical Center, Heerlen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Latten
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma Surgery, Zuyderland Medical Center, Heerlen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Loos
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Zuyderland Medical Center, Henri Dunantstraat 5, 6419 PC, Heerlen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van Hemert
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Zuyderland Medical Center, Henri Dunantstraat 5, 6419 PC, Heerlen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Vles
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D004204:Joint Dislocations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012865:Skiing / Q000293:injuries; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000458:organization & administration; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Emergency department; Fractures; Indoor skiing center; Ski; Snowboard; Trauma