Roller Skating Accidents and Injuries

Abstract

A consecutive series of 65 fractures, dislocations and ligament tears produced by roller skating accidents treated by the Orthopedic Department of the Mt. Sinai Services at City Hospital Center of Elmhurst, New York [New York, USA], is reviewed. Injuries resulting from collisions occurring in a skating rink were more serious than those resulting from street accidents. Data indicated that lack of expertise is a prominent factor in the production of serious injury, but the sport has inherent risk which is not eliminated by expertise. Roller skating can and does produce disabling injuries. To reduce the number of injuries, it will be required to reduce crowding in rinks, designate separate beginners'' areas, use training wheels or clamp-on type of skates when learning, encourage lessons and separate beginners in the rinks.