If you are amongst the million plus Britons leaving the UK and heading to the slopes this 2023/2024 snow season, then you need to ensure that you take all the necessary precautions to try to prevent any accidents from occurring.
Although skiing and snowboarding are great fun and provide excellent exercise, they can be dangerous and injuries do often happen.
Every day during snow season, more than 1,000 UK residents get injured, with sprains, fractures and breaks extremely common, and the OrthTeam regularly provide medical advice to many of these patients overseas and expedite treatment once they are back home.
It can be very daunting if you or a family member does get injured and are told that you/they need treatment for the injury. It’s important that you make an informed decision as to whether to have treatment abroad or delay it until you arrive back in the UK.
Our leading experts have put together a quick guide to help you determine which injuries require immediate treatment and which can potentially wait.
Dislocations
This is when a joint comes apart and is extremely painful. The most common ski dislocation is in the shoulder. This injury requires immediate reduction of the dislocation at an urgent care facility abroad, however, further treatment thereafter can often wait.
Fractures
Open fractures are where the bone communicates with the skin through a wound. These require urgent attention abroad. Closed fractures, however, can often wait. Sometimes, if the bone is very severely displaced and out of position, it can be improved by manipulation under local anaesthetic abroad and placed in a plaster backslab to maintain a reasonable position. Definitive treatment can then be planned back in the UK.
Ligament injuries
Almost all ligament injuries can wait until you arrive back in the UK, but we recommend that you are assessed urgently by a specialist on your return. The most common ligament injuries that occur on the slopes are to the knee and the thumb; with ‘skier’s thumb’ one of the most common snow sports ligament injuries.
Spinal and head injuries
Severe spinal and head injuries often require specialist assessment abroad. Always wear a helmet and for children, consider a spinal support. These may prevent head and spinal injuries from colliding into a solid object, such as a tree, and can also offer protection from being hit by another out-of-control skier.
Checklist
– Winter sports insurance
– Helmet
– First aid kit
– OrthTeam Centre number stored in your phone: 0161 447 6888
To find out more about our Winter Sports Injury Service or to book a consultation :
Call 0161 447 6888
X @OrthT
Facebook @OrthTeamCentre
Instagram @orthteamcentre
LinkedIn /company/orthteam
