[Are ice-skating ramps dangerous?].

INTRODUCTION

Before the new temporary ice rink in Esbjerg was built, opponents feared that it would disproportionately increase the number of traumas needing medical care at the hospital. The reason for this concern was that it was built with ramps.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

During the winter of 2004 an estimated 30,000 people visited the two ice rinks in Esbjerg. The temporary rink had ramps, whereas the permanent rink had no ramps. A total of 104 persons were injured and needed treatment at the emergency room of orthopaedic surgery. They all received a questionnaire in order to obtain information about a) whether the accident took place on one or the other ice rink, and b) how frequently safety equipment was used.

RESULTS

The answers from the questionnaire were used along with information obtained from the emergency room journals. We wanted to establish if accidents on the temporary ice rink were more serious or if the proportion of injuries was higher compared to accidents on the permanent ice rink.

DISCUSSION

There was no significant difference in the number of injuries or in the severity of the traumas resulting from skating on the temporary ice rink compared with the permanent rink. Only 4% used safety equipment.

CONCLUSION

Having ramps on the ice rink produced no significant increase in the proportion of injuries, nor did it produce more severe traumas. Safety equipment protecting hand and wrist would probably decrease the number of soft tissue injuries presented at hospital.