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A FIVE‐YEAR SURVEY OF SKIING FRACTURES FROM FALLS CREEK, VICTORIA
Author(s) -
Hutchings Jean
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1969.tb105690.x
Subject(s) - ankle , medicine , alpine skiing , fibula , reduction (mathematics) , tibia , surgery , physical medicine and rehabilitation , geometry , mathematics
A survey of 247 skiing fractures is presented covering a five‐year period in which practically all fractures from Falls Creek were treated at Mount Beauty District Hospital. Of 210 fractures of the leg, 115 involved one bone only, and 63 involved both tibia and fibula. Fractures about the ankle joint comprised 42. Reduction under general anæsthesia was necessary in only 48 out of 210 cases. This is considered to be partly due to prompt and efficient ski rescue methods on the slopes. The major causes of ski fractures are failure of safety bindings to release, brought about by faulty adjustment, and variable snow conditions, the most dangerous being the alternate freeze and thaw of spring snow. Fatigue and lack of physical fitness also play a part. The main principles of handling these fractures are prompt and efficient ski rescue on the slopes, minimal delay in transport, prompt and adequate reduction and immobilization at hospital, and recognition and transfer of those cases requiring specialist management. A few hints to intending skiers are included in the hope of reducing the incidence of serious injuries.