Downhill skiing and snowboarding injuries: a guide for GPs

At this time of year, GPs notice a steady flow of patients presenting with an injury sustained during a recent skiing or snowboarding holiday. Understanding injury patterns from these activities will assist in management decisions.

Injury patterns in the snowfields in recent years have been well documented. The knee, shoulder and thumb are the injured sites encountered most frequently in skiers, whereas the ankle, wrist, elbow and shoulder are those seen more commonly in snowboarders. This article outlines the management principles of common injuries to the upper and lower limbs, but does not discuss more serious problems such as head and spinal pathology.