Citation

Schonhuber H, Leo R. J. Sports Traumatol. Rel. Res. 2000; 22(4): 141-158.

Affiliation

Leo, R., 20148 Milano, Italy

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Kurtis Publications)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

An epidemiological examination of Elite skiers' traumas is followed by an illustration of their main injury mechanisms. It is shown that the lower limb and especially the knee are the most afflicted sites: one out of every two traumas involves the knee and its injuries account for all those of the lower limb. The shoulder is the main upper-limb injury site. Examination of the types of traumas shows that sprains are by far the most frequent. The knee is obviously the principle site. Fractures are the second type of lesion, though evidently much fewer than sprains. A distinction is drawn between generic injury mechanisms that occur in the event of total loss of control of the skis and specific mechanisms that concern distinct body districts such as the knee and the shoulder. The most frequent knee injury mechanism is valgus plus external rotation, though new mechanisms acting via the boot have appeared in recent years. Shoulder injury mechanisms comprise falling with the upper limb extended and abducted, and indirect trauma through resting on the stick. Analysis of these mechanisms is essential for studies of the prevention of traumas that have the difficult task of reducing the number and above all the gravity of skiing accidents.