The National
Spinal Cord
Injury Association

Disability in the News Archive

Jet Skiers Tend To Injure Spine

March 30, 1998 -- NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Jet skiers are at a higher risk of injuring their spine than any other part of their body, including muscles or joints, according to Dr. Gregory Solis of the University Medical Center at the University of Florida Health Sciences Center in Jacksonville.

The hospital's trauma center evaluated 12 jet skiers with 14 orthopaedic injuries -- injuries to the skeleton, muscles or joints -- between July 1994 and April 1997, Solis reported at the 65th annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in New Orleans, Louisiana. Five (42%) of the injuries were spinal fractures, and four out of the five were the result of riding a jet ski directly into an incoming wave in an effort to "jump" the wave.

"Even though the number of cases in this study is limited and there is not much documentation of orthopaedic injuries from jet skis in the literature, there is no doubt that the sport is gaining popularity and more injuries will follow," Solis said.

Other injuries reported in the study included fractures of the lower leg and ankle, two amputations, and a shoulder dislocation.

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