Orthopedic injuries associated with jet-skis (personal watercrafts): A review of 127 inpatients

C J Donnally 3rd; P M Rothenberg; G Metser; D H Massel; A J Butler; D Damodar; S H Shin; T L Zakrison

doi:10.1016/j.otsr.2018.01.004

Orthopedic injuries associated with jet-skis (personal watercrafts): A review of 127 inpatients

Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2018 Apr;104(2):267-271. doi: 10.1016/j.otsr.2018.01.004. Epub 2018 Feb 2.

Authors

C J Donnally 3rd¹, P M Rothenberg², G Metser², D H Massel², A J Butler², D Damodar², S H Shin³, T L Zakrison³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopedics, university of Miami hospital, 1400 NW 12th avenue, 33136 Miami, US. Electronic address: Chester.Donnally@jhsmiami.org.
² Department of Orthopedics, university of Miami hospital, 1400 NW 12th avenue, 33136 Miami, US.
³ Department of Surgery, Jackson Memorial hospital, 1800 NW 10th avenue, 33136 Miami, US.

PMID: 29410212
DOI: 10.1016/j.otsr.2018.01.004

Abstract

Background: Personal watercrafts (PWC) account for a disproportionate amount of water based injuries. Current literature suggests those with less PWC experience are more at risk for injury. Previous studies have not specifically evaluated the orthopedic implications of PWC usage or how various mechanisms of injury (MOI) contribute to different injury patterns.

Hypothesis: PWC injuries will frequently require orthopedic intervention. The presence of an orthopedic injury will result in increased injury severity score (ISS), hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS). Patients visiting our region will have less PWC experience and so are more prone to serious injuries.

Materials and methods: Retrospective cohort study at a single Level 1 trauma center of admitted patients sustaining PWC injuries from 02/2004-03/2017. The following were studied: demographics, mechanism, season, ISS, hospital and ICU LOS, follow-up, fracture characteristics and management.

Results: Hundred and twenty-seven patients were admitted due to PWC injury, 66 (52.0%) sustained an orthopedic injury, totaling 103 fractures (48 [46.6%] lower extremity, 26 [25.2%] upper extremity, 14 [13.6%] vertebral, 11 [10.7%] pelvic ring and 4 [3.9%] acetabulum). The mean age of orthopedic patients was 29 years (range 8-62). Handle bar injuries were significantly associated with open fractures, (13 of 25 open fractures, 3 of which became infected). Injuries occurring during the winter were associated with a higher ISS, yet more injuries occurred in the summer. A patient being a "visitor" to the region did not influence ISS. The mean LOS was 12.6 days for orthopedic patients. Eighteen orthopedic patients (27.3%) required ICU admission and 36 (54.5%) patients required orthopedic surgery (mean 2.11 operations).

Discussion: A majority of PWC injuries resulted in extremity fractures with a moderate percentage requiring orthopedic surgery. Correlations between PWC experience and injury incidence can provide information for increased safety.

Level of evidence: IV; retrospective.

Keywords: Aquatic injuries; Fractures; Jet-ski; Orthopedics; Personal watercraft; Sea-Doo.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Child
Female
Florida / epidemiology
Fractures, Bone / epidemiology*
Fractures, Bone / etiology*
Fractures, Bone / surgery
Fractures, Open / etiology
Humans
Incidence
Injury Severity Score
Intensive Care Units
Length of Stay
Lower Extremity / injuries
Male
Middle Aged
Orthopedic Procedures / statistics & numerical data
Pelvic Bones / injuries
Retrospective Studies
Seasons
Ships
Spinal Fractures / epidemiology
Spinal Fractures / etiology
Sports Equipment / adverse effects*
Upper Extremity / injuries
Water Sports / injuries*
Young Adult