Abstract des Autors

After determining a 0.3 incidence of lumbar spine injuries in 1,846 jumps made by US Army Green Beret paratroopers, we made a retrospective study of lumbar spine injuries in jumpers. Age, total number of jumps, past and presentsymptoms, physical findings, and lumbar spine x-ray findings were studied and tabulated for 70 jumpers. The most significant finding was the vertebral body chip fractures in 50 of the group 1 jumpers, compared with 10 in group 2 jumpers, and 0 in group 3 jumpers. Nearly half of the chip fractures in group1 were associated with compression fractures. One compression fracture was seen in group 2 and one in group 3. There was a high incidence of degenerativedisk disease in all three groups, but there was not statistically significant difference. It is concluded that the flexion-rotation mechanics of a parachutelanding lumbar spine injury often results in a chip fracture with or without acompression fracture, and that the fractures are usually stable and not seriously disabling. However, if a major malfunction of a parachute occurs, orif a parachutist makes an error, increases in landing velocities can occur, which may lead to major spine injuries. Verf.-Referat