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Traumatic Spinal Cord Injuries From Snowboarding

Kazuhiko Wakahara, MD^*, Kazu Matsumoto, MD, PhD^*,, Hiroshi Sumi, MD, Yasuhiko Sumi, MD, PhD and Katsuji Shimizu, MD, DMSc^*

From the ^* Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Gifu University School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan, and the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Department of Neurosurgery, Sumi Memorial Hospital, Gifu, Japan

Address correspondence to Kazu Matsumoto, MD, PhD, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Gifu University School of Medicine, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1194, Japan (e-mail: mkazuu{at}cc.gifu-u.ac.jp).

Background: Little information has yet been made available on the types and mechanisms of snowboard-related spinal cord injuries or their neurologic involvement.

Purpose: To review the cause and types of spinal cord injuries seen in snowboarders.

Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods: The subjects were 18 patients (mean age, 24.0 years) referred to the authors’ institution for neurologic deficits associated with spinal injuries between November 1, 1995, and April 9, 2005. The clinical features of these patients were reviewed with respect to epidemiologic factors, mechanism of injury, fracture pattern, and neurologic status.

Results: The 18 snowboarders with spinal cord injuries constituted a very homogeneous group. First, almost all patients (94.4%) were young men. Second, most of the patients were intermediate or expert boarders. Third, the most common cause of injury was a failure of intentional jumping (83.3%). Fourth, the most commonly affected site was the thoracolumbar junction (66.7%), and the most common type of fracture was an anterior dislocation fracture (66.7%). Finally, in the thoracolumbar group, most patients (83.3%) were classed as Frankel grade A or B.

Conclusion: It is fundamentally important that snowboarders, especially young men, be made aware of the spinal injury risk associated with jumping.

Key Words: snowboarding • spinal cord injury • winter sports