Downhill skiing injuries and their cost at a Finnish skiing area |
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| Authors: | P Asikainen P Lüthje M Järvinen V Avikainen I Koskinen |
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| Institution: | Regional Hospital, Jämsä, Department of Surgery, Regional Hospital, Kuusankoski, University Hospital, Tamp, Central Hospital, Jyväskylä, Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Helsinki, Finland |
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| Abstract: | During the 1987–1990 ski seasons. 325 consecutive patients sustained downhill skiing injuries at a skiing area in central Finland. The calculated injury rate was 0.94 per 1000 skier-days (0.9%) and 0.56 per 1000 skiers (0.06%). Forty-one percent of the injuries were located in the lower limbs and 37% in the upper limbs. Sprain was the most common type of injury (34%), followed by fractures (22%) and contusions (17%). Only 7% of the patients needed surgery. The estimated mean cost of medical treatment and sick leave was FIM 5500 (USD 1400) per patient. |
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| Keywords: | downhill skiing accident cost |
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