From the White Slopes to the Emergency Department: An Analysis of Winter Sports Traumas in Kars

Abstract

Objective: Winter sports inherently possess dynamics that can lead to physical traumas and injuries. In this study, we aimed to investigate the injury patterns among patients admitted to the emergency department due to winter sports-related injuries, and to analyze how these types of injuries vary according to the patients' use of protective equipment and Body Mass Index (BMI). Materials and Methods: This retrospective, single-center study was conducted with trauma patients admitted to the emergency department during the 4-month winter season when skiing and snowboarding are actively practiced. The patients' age, gender, BMI, type of sport, anatomical region of injury, radiological imaging results, protective equipment utilization, and treatment outcomes were analyzed using hospital records. Results: In the study, which included a total of 43 patients, it was observed that 65.1% (n=28) of the participants had a normal BMI. Based on the radiological imaging performed due to the injuries, no orthopedic pathology was detected in 55.8% (n=24) of the patients. Fractures were observed in 75% (n=12) of the skiing group. The overall rate of protective equipment use among the study population was approximately 79%. More than half of the patients (51.2%) were discharged as outpatients following simple medical interventions in the emergency department. It was determined that fractures detected in radiological imaging were significantly more common among younger individuals (p<0.05). Conclusion: In winter sports-related injuries, the young population—particularly those under 30 years of age—is at a high risk for bone fractures. The utilization of protective equipment is effective in reducing the severity of emergency department presentations.

Keywords

• Winter sports
• Injuries
• Emergency department
• Protective equipment

Kars'ta Kış Sporları Travmalarının Analizi: Beyaz Yamaçlardan Acil Servise

Abstract

Amaç: Kış sporları doğası gereği fiziksel travmalara ve yaralanmalara yol açabilecek dinamikler içerir. Bu çalışmada, kış sporlarıyla ilgili yaralanmalar nedeniyle acil servise başvuran hastalar arasında yaralanma modellerini araştırmayı ve bu tür yaralanmaların hastaların koruyucu ekipman kullanımı ve Vücut Kitle İndeksi (VKİ) ile nasıl değiştiğini analiz etmeyi amaçladık. Materyaller ve Yöntemler: Bu retrospektif, tek merkezli çalışma, kayak ve snowboard'un aktif olarak yapıldığı 4 aylık kış sezonunda acil servise başvuran travma hastalarıyla gerçekleştirildi. Hastaların yaşı, cinsiyeti, VKİ'si, spor türü, yaralanmanın anatomik bölgesi, radyolojik görüntüleme sonuçları, koruyucu ekipman kullanımı ve tedavi sonuçları hastane kayıtları kullanılarak analiz edildi. Bulgular: Toplam 43 hastanın dahil edildiği çalışmada, katılımcıların %65,1'inin (n=28) normal VKİ'ye sahip olduğu gözlemlendi. Yaralanmalar nedeniyle yapılan radyolojik görüntülemeye göre, hastaların %55,8'inde (n=24) ortopedik patoloji saptanmadı. Kayak yapan grubun %75'inde (n=12) kırık gözlemlendi. Çalışma popülasyonunda koruyucu ekipman kullanım oranı genel olarak yaklaşık %79 idi. Hastaların yarısından fazlası (%51,2) acil serviste basit tıbbi müdahalelerin ardından ayakta tedavi gören hastalar olarak taburcu edildi. Radyolojik görüntülemede tespit edilen kırıkların genç bireylerde anlamlı derecede daha yaygın olduğu belirlendi (p<0,05). Sonuç: Kış sporlarıyla ilgili yaralanmalarda, özellikle 30 yaşın altındaki genç nüfus kemik kırıkları açısından yüksek risk altındadır. Koruyucu ekipman kullanımı, acil servis başvurularının ciddiyetini azaltmada etkilidir.

Keywords

• Kış sporları
• Yaralanmalar
• Acil servis
• Koruyucu ekipman.

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