Epidemiology of paediatric winter sports-related injuries in France: The WINTRAUMA-1 retrospective cohort study.

AIM

To describe the epidemiology of injuries related to winter sports in patients younger than 15 years in France.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective observational multicentre cohort study of patients younger than 15 years who were seen by mountain-community general practitioners for winter-sports injuries in 1999-2022.

RESULTS

Of the 108 619 patients (mean age, 11.4 ± 2.8 years), 76 724 (70.6%), 26 186 (24.1%) and 2132 (2.0%) were injured while skiing, snowboarding and sledding, respectively. Helmet use was noted in 50 164 (46.2%) patients and increased over time but remained low among sledders. A collision was the mechanism in 12.3% of patients overall and 32.1% of sledders. The most common injuries overall were wrist fractures (48.5%), head and trunk injuries (42.3%), and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears (23.7%), with wrist fractures being more common in beginners (24.7%) and head/trunk injuries and ACL tears in advanced participants (18.3% and 2.6%, respectively). Only 3699 (3.4%) patients were admitted after the general-practitioner visit, notably for leg or ankle fractures (9.5%).

CONCLUSION

Winter sports-related injuries vary according to age, sex, skill level and sport. Admission rates are low but might be further decreased by better prevention. Protective measures should be tailored to each sport and individual.