An evaluation of knee ligament injuries encountered in skiers at the Uludag Ski Center

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the frequency, anatomic types, and predisposing factors of knee ligament injuries that occur in skiers during a winter season at the Uludag Ski Center, Bursa, Turkey. METHODS: A total of 215 patients (240 knees) presented to the Uludag University-Sabanci Health Center after sustaining a skier knee injury during the 2003-2004 winter season. The mean patient age was 31 years (range 9 to 55 years). Knee ligament injuries were assessed according to the AOSSM (American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine) criteria. Cumulative data were collected from patient records and from a questionnaire administered to 100 healthy skiers. RESULTS: The mean knee injury rate was 1.14 injuries per 1000 skier-days. The mean length of time between the occurrence of knee injuries was 875 skier-days. The most frequently injured ligament was the interior cruciate ligament (35.4%) followed by the anterior cruciate ligament (27.1%). Knee ligament injuries were significantly more common in skiers than in snowboarders (odds ratio 6.83, p<0.001). Hard and steep pists were associated with a two-fold risk for knee ligament injuries (odds ratio 2.28, p<0.001). For the occurrence of knee injuries, no significant differences were found with respect to sex and age. CONCLUSION: The interior and the anterior cruciate ligaments are the most commonly injured ligaments in skiers. Two risk factors concerning the equipment (ski) and the environment (hard pists) play a significant role in the occurrence of knee injuries.