Arch Pediatr. 2026 Mar 19:105502. doi: 10.1016/j.arcped.2026.105502. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study aims to describe the epidemiology of sledding-related injuries in children in France.
METHODS: A retrospective multicenter study conducted among mountain general practitioners. Patients younger than 15 years old who consulted a general practitioner in French resorts for trauma following a sledding-related accident between 2005 and 2022 were included.
RESULTS: We included 2132 patients (mean age 9.0 ± 3.5 years; 51.3% boys). The main cause of injury was a collision (n = 638, 32.1%). The most frequent injuries were head injuries (n = 902, 42.3%), followed by upper extremities (n = 662, 31.1%) and lower extremities (n = 549, 25.7%). The proportion of children wearing a helmet was low (16.5%). The hospitalization rate was 5.2%, but varied by injury.
CONCLUSION: Sledding is a popular winter sport, but it can result in severe injuries, especially head injuries. Helmet use was extremely low in our cohort, highlighting the importance of a targeted prevention campaign.
PMID:41862319 | DOI:10.1016/j.arcped.2026.105502
