Medizinische Universität Graz - Research portal
Selected Publication:
Patzer, J.
Mountain Biking Injuries in Children and Adolescents
Humanmedizin; [ Diplomarbeit ] Graz Medical University; 2017. pp.
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- Authors Med Uni Graz:
- Advisor:
- Lange Christiane
- Singer Georg
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- Abstract:
- Mountain biking has become a popular sport in adults as well as children and adolescents. Consequently, the absolute numbers of injuries increase. However, there is a paucity of studies analyzing mountain bike injuries in children and adolescents. The aim of this thesis is to provide a retrospective overview of injuries suffered during mountain biking accidents All children with mountain bike injuries treated at the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Surgery of the Medical University of Graz between 1999 and 2016 were included. Data was collected about the age at injury, gender, the exact day and year and the exact circumstances. Additionally, the affected body region, the diagnosis and treatment were assessed. During the 18 years study period, 165 patients with a mean age of 13.9 years (range 5 to 18 years) were included. 144 of the patients were boys (87.3%) and 21 girls (12.7%). No gender related age difference could be found (mean 13.9 years boys; mean 14 years girls, p=0.907). The majority of injuries happened at an age of 15 years and during leisure time, on weekends and in the summer months. The most commonly injured region was the upper extremity (n=78) with radial fractures accounting for the majority of diagnoses (n=9). 12 patients suffered a fracture of the clavicle and 2 patients ruptured their spleen. 42 patients (25.5%) were hospitalized. 20 (12%) of these needed surgical intervention. The mean duration of hospital stay was 4.5 days (range 2 to 23). 4 patients had to be treated in the intensive care unit, 2 of them because of fractures of multiple vertebral bodies. In summary, most of the mountain bike injuries concerned boys. The upper extremity is especially prone to injuries. Therefore, prevention strategies should focus on these findings. Since the present analysis was retrospective a prospective study including detailed data on the exact circumstances of accidents, worn protective gear and the skills of the bikers is still lacking and could be performed in future.