Kitesurf injury trauma evaluation study: A prospective cohort study evaluating kitesurf injuries

Christiaan Ja van Bergen; Rik Ik Weber; Tim Kraal; Gino Mmj Kerkhoffs; Daniël Haverkamp

doi:10.5312/wjo.v11.i4.243

Kitesurf injury trauma evaluation study: A prospective cohort study evaluating kitesurf injuries

World J Orthop. 2020 Apr 18;11(4):243-251. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v11.i4.243.

Authors

Christiaan Ja van Bergen¹, Rik Ik Weber², Tim Kraal³, Gino Mmj Kerkhoffs⁴, Daniël Haverkamp⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Amphia Hospital, Breda 4818 CK, the Netherlands.
² Department of Sports Medicine, University Medical Center, Utrecht 3584 CX, the Netherlands.
³ Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Spaarne Hospital, Hoofddorp 2134 TM, the Netherlands.
⁴ Academic Center for Evidence based Sports Medicine, Amsterdam 1105 AZ, the Netherlands.
⁵ Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Xpert Clinic, Amsterdam 1103 TB, the Netherlands.

Abstract

Background: Kitesurfing is an increasingly popular and potentially dangerous extreme water sport. We hypothesized that kitesurfing has a higher injury rate than other (contact) sports and that the minority of injuries are severe.

Aim: To investigate the incidence and epidemiology of kitesurfing injuries in a Dutch cohort during a complete kitesurfing season.

Methods: Injury data of 194 kitesurfers of various skill levels, riding styles and age were surveyed prospectively during a full kitesurf season. The participants were recruited through the Dutch national kitesurf association, social media, local websites and kitesurf schools. Participants completed digital questionnaires monthly. The amount of time kitesurfing was registered along with all sustained injuries. If an injury was reported, an additional questionnaire explored the type of injury, injury location, severity and the circumstances under which the injury occurred.

Results: The mean age of participants was 31 years (range, 13-59) and the majority of the study population was male (74.2%). A total of 177 injuries were sustained during 16816 kitesurf hours. The calculated injury rate was 10.5 injuries per 1000 h of kitesurfing. The most common injuries were cuts and abrasions (25.4%), followed by contusions (19.8%), joint sprains (17.5%) and muscle sprains (10.2%). The foot and ankle were the most common site of injury (31.8%), followed by the knee (14.1%) and hand and wrist (10.2%). Most injuries were reported to occur during a trick or jump. Although the majority of injuries were mild, severe injuries like an anterior cruciate ligament tear, a lumbar spine fracture, a bimalleolar ankle fracture and an eardrum rupture were reported.

Conclusion: The injury rate of kitesurfing is in the range of other popular (contact) sports. Most injuries are relatively mild, although kitesurfing has the potential to cause serious injuries.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Extreme sports; Injuries; Kite boarding; Sports medicine; Water sports.