Recreational skiing- and snowboarding-related injuries – a four-year trauma center cohort from Kopaonik mountain ski center

Abstract

Introduction/Objective Skiing and snowboarding are popular winter sports with distinct participant demographics, equipment, and movement patterns. Comparative epidemiological data from Southeast Europe are limited. The aim of this study was to compare injury epidemiology and injury patterns between skiers and snowboarders at the Kopaonik Ski Resort, Serbia.

Methods This retrospective descriptive epidemiological study analyzed ski patrol reports and medical records from the University Clinical Center of Serbia over four winter seasons (2021–2024). Injured participants aged 4–81 years who received on-site ski patrol assistance and were evaluated at the resort-based trauma center were included. Participants were categorized according to sport (skiing or snowboarding). Group differences in demographic, temporal, and environmental characteristics were assessed using χ² tests. Injury types and anatomical distribution were compared using χ² or Fisher’s exact tests, and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated.

Results A total of 3368 injured participants were included, of whom 3011 (89.4%) were skiers and 357 (10.6%) snowboarders. Snowboarders were younger and more often male (p < 0.001). They were more frequently injured on novice slopes, whereas skiers predominated on advanced slopes (p = 0.001). Helmet use was higher among snowboarders (p = 0.004). Skiers had higher odds of knee and lower leg injuries, while snowboarders more commonly sustained forearm and hand/wrist injuries. Fractures and dislocations were more frequent among snowboarders, whereas sprains predominated in skiers.

Conclusion Significant sport-specific differences in injury patterns were identified. These findings support the development of targeted injury prevention strategies and optimization of healthcare services for winter sports injuries.

Keywords: snowboarding; skiing; injury