Pediatric Snowboarding Severe Abdominal Trauma: Report of Our Experience

Introduction: Snowboarding injuries have increased and blunt abdominal trauma is frequent; the aim of this study is to report our experience with severe abdominal trauma treated in high mountain with a well skilled rescue team.

Materials and Methods: We retrospectively review cases of severe abdominal trauma in snowboarder aged 6-18 years treated between December 2008 and December 2016. this specific high mountain skiarea has a well skilled reascue team with doctor. Demographic, type of injury, type of organ trauma, morbidity and outcomes were recorded and evaluated.

Results: After reviewing casxes, 32 patients were enrolled. 30 were male. 18 (56%) cases had an associated head trauma with concussion and neurocognitive deficits; other 5 cases had head trauma without deficits. One patients had thoracic spine injury associated with complete spine injury. Twenty were injured in a fall, 10 collided with a stationary object and in 2 cases the mechanism of injury was unclear. 19 patients had single organ injury (18 spleen and 1 kidney); 5 patients had spleen and kidney, 6 patients liver and spleen and 2 patients had spleen,liver and pancreatic injury. Two patients undewent splenectomy and nephrectomy while only one patients had splenectomy alone. All the other were treated conservatively without morbidity. Younger patients

Conclusions: Young male snowboarders are at risk for having multiple organ injuries; it is essential to hospitalyze these cases as soon as possible. Abdominal trauma especially after collision with stationary object are at risk for severe organ failure