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Abstract
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INTRODUCTION: Parachute jumps are an indispensable element of military tactics of Air Cavalry. Parachute jumps, however, are characterized by high injury rate, which may impair the effectiveness of military strategies. The objective of this study is to analyze the circumstances and characteristics of injuries sustained by air cavalry brigade soldiers over a 7-year period.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis involved 37,467 parachute jumps done in the Air Cavalry Brigade between 2000 and 2006. The study group comprised 87 males aged 19-55, who suffered 84 injuries during jumps. The frequency and anatomic location of injuries, years of service, number of performed jumps, frequency and kind of injuries, the subunits involved in the study, number of injuries and age group, fitness test grade and injury risk during a parachute jump, season of year, meteorological conditions and injury risk, landing site and injury risk, jump altitude and frequency and kind of injuries, type of airship and parachute and injury occurrence, frequency of injuries depending on season, month and day of the week were analyzed.
RESULTS: The average rate of injuries among military parachutists ranged from 1.48 to 3.76 per 1,000 jumps. Younger and less experienced soldiers were more prone for injuries. Round parachute, lower altitude jumps, cloudy weather, and helicopter jumps were found to be risk factors for injury. The most frequent were ankle and knee sprains followed by shaft fractures (70% of all trauma).
CONCLUSIONS: The material has revealed a significant relationship among physical fitness, number of parachute jumps, soldier's age, and traumatism. Ankle sprain is the most frequent parachute injury. Compared to the soldiers of other types of military forces, soldiers - parachutists run a higher risk for military disqualification in the aftermath of sustained injury.
Language: en |