Sledding injuries in patients presenting to the emergency department in a northern city.

Abstract

Sledding is a common recreational activity in northern communities. The objective of this study was to examine the frequency and nature of sledding injuries (SIs) in patients presenting to emergency departments (EDs). The data were derived from a cohort of patients treated at all five EDs in an urban Canadian health region over a two-year period. Following chart review, consenting patients were interviewed by telephone about their sledding activities and the circumstances surrounding the injury. Three hundred twenty-eight patients were correctly coded as having SIs, with 212 patients (65%) reached during the follow-up survey. The median age of those with SIs was 12 years (IQR = 8, 21), and 206 (59%) were male. Injury rates peaked in the 10--14-year age group (87/100,000) for boys and in the 5--9-year age group (75/100,000) for girls. Most patients stated they were drivers (75%), fewer than half were thrown from the sled (42%), and fewer than half (44%) were sledding on community-designated sledding hills at the time of injury. Injuries to the lower extremity (32%), upper extremity (31%), and head (13%) were most common. Thirty-seven (11%) patients with SIs were admitted to hospital vs 4% of patients with other sports/recreation injuries (p < 0.05). Sledding injuries are common and potentially serious wintertime injuries in northern communities, involving primarily younger patients, with a large pre-adolescent group. However, older sledders (>20 years) have poorer outcomes (hospitalization, lost time from work/school) than their younger counterparts. The SIs treated in the ED appear to lead to hospitalization more frequently than other types of sport/recreation injury, and injury prevention strategies appear warranted.