Skimboarding: A new cause of water sport spinal cord injury

Abstract

Study design:Case series.Objective:To present three cases of spinal cord injuries associated with skimboarding and to suggest aspects of the sport that may be associated with spinal cord injury.Setting:Shepherd Center, Atlanta, GA, USA. Spinal cord injury rehabilitation facility.Methods:Three males, aged 17-23 years, sustained cervical spine fractures resulting in tetraplegia after skimboarding accidents.Results:The patients admitted from Florida hospitals presented with tetraplegia resulting from both incomplete and complete spinal cord injuries. The ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS) neurologic levels ranged from C3 to C5. All were injured by being thrown from the skimboard riding into the waves in shallow water. All patients required surgical stabilization and inpatient rehabilitation.Conclusions:Previous studies on skimboarding have demonstrated the risk of extremity fractures and soft tissue injuries. Spinal cord injury should be considered an additional risk associated with skimboarding, particularly as the sport has grown in popularity and become more extreme in the maneuvers performed. Increased education and awareness about the potential risk of spinal cord injury are essential. © 2010 International Spinal Cord Society All rights reserved.