Abstract
Introduction
The causes and events related to skateboarding injuries have been widely documented.
However, little is known about longboard-related injuries. With five deaths linked
to longboarding in the United States and Canada in 2012, some cities are already considering
banning the practice. This study compared the types and causes of longboarding-related
injuries to those associated with skateboarding.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective cohort study, using an emergency-based surveillance system,
on patients under the age of 18 who had been injured while longboarding or skateboarding
between 2006 and 2010.
Results
A total of 287 longboarding and 4198 skateboarding cases were identified. There were
more females in the longboarding group (18.8%) than in the skateboarding one (10.7%,
p < 0.002). All the injured longboarders were older than 10 years of age while a fifth
of the injured skateboarders were under the age of 11. Longboarders’ injuries occurred
mainly on streets and roads (75.3% vs. 34.3% in skateboarders, p < 0.000) and rarely in skate parks (1.4% vs. 26.4% in skateboarders, p < 0.000). Longboarders suffered twice as many injuries to their heads and necks (23.3%
vs. 13.1%, p < 0.000) and twice as many severe neurological traumas (8.6 vs. 3.7%, p < 0.000) while skateboarders suffered more injuries to their lower extremities (33.7%
vs. 24.7%, p < 0.002).
Conclusion
Longboarding is associated with a different pattern of injuries than skateboarding.
Because longboarders suffer more intracranial injuries, the importance of helmet use
should be especially strongly reinforced.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 07, 2014
Accepted:
March 14,
2014
Identification
Copyright
© 2014 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
