Abstract

A prospective study in the County of Vejle in the skiing season 1986/1987 showed that the hospitals were contacted by 129 persons with skiing injuries. In the same period, 82 practitioners in the County of Fejle registered 32 skiing injuries. In 20 of these 32 cases, the skiing injury was completely treated by the practioner. Seventy-six injuries occurred abroad whereas 53 injuries occurred in Denmark. The distribution of the number of skiing injuries between the various hospitals in the County of Fejle is well correlated to the size of each hospital. Slalom skiing caused 58 of ther injuries, while cross-country skiing caused 42 of the injuries. 61 of the lesions were located to the lower extremities, among which knee injuries predominated. 33 of the injuries were located to the upper extremities among which thumb injuries predominated. A comparison is made between previous Danish investigations and the present investigation, and it is estimated that Danish hospitals treat approximately 3000 skiing injuries each year, and that practitioners treat altogether approximately 800 skiing injuries every year. Verf.-Referat