Description of Wrist Fractures in Recreational Snowboarding: Implications for Wrist Guard Design

Wrist injuries are common in mountain snow sports, particularly snowboarding. Wrist guards have been shown to reduce wrist fractures by upwards of 85%, but only 5-7% of snowboarders wear this protective device. There are no industry standards for the wrist guard design, which likely limits their perceived effectiveness and therefore their use. Wrist fractures have not been thoroughly characterized in the literature. A more detailed understanding of fracture patterns may inform improved design of snowboarding wrist guards. PURPOSE: To characterize wrist fracture patterns in greater detail than has previously been done, in order to gain an improved understanding of wrist fracture patterns and inform the design of more effective wrist guards to prevent wrist injuries in snowboarders. METHODS: In this retrospective chart review, medical records from a large western mountain resort injury clinic were analyzed for demographic and clinical data collected during two consecutive winter seasons. Radiographs were analyzed to further classify fractures. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and the χ2 test. RESULTS: We identified 379 wrist injuries over the two winter seasons (age = 22.7 ± 14.1, male = 53.3%), with the majority being in snowboarders (n = 307, 81.0%). 97% of all patients with wrist injuries had radiographs taken, and 64.6% were diagnosed with wrist fracture (n = 224 for distal radius fracture, n = 27 for ulnar fracture, and n = 27 for concomitant radial/ulnar fractures). Snowboarders had a significantly higher percentage of wrist fractures than did skiers (69.1% for snowboarders vs. 46.2% for skiers, χ2 = 12.376, p < 0.001). 71% of all distal radius fractures were AO classification A2; 16% were C1 or C2. 33% of distal radius fractures required reduction. The angle of displacement of the distal radius fragment ranged from 1-61 degrees. 49% of wrist fractures were in skeletally immature patients. 3.3 % of all patients with wrist fractures were shown to be wearing wrist guards at the time of injury. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides greater detail of wrist fracture patterns in snowboarders. These data can inform industry wrist guard standards.