Parachuting injuries: a retrospective study of 83,718 jumps

Abstract

In a retrospective study of 83,718 consecutive parachuting jumps effected in the Israeli Defence Forces, an injury rate of 6.26/1,000 jumps was observed. About two-thirds of the injuries were light. Injury rates were calculated according to type of jump (free jumps, basic course, refresher jumps, and maneuvers jumps) and time of jump (day or night). A significant difference was found between the injury rate by day (4.62/1,000) and night (11.25/1,000). The lowest injury rate was observed among free jumpers (2.96/1,000) and highest during maneuvers jumps at night (25.75/1,000). The injury rate during the basic parachuting course was 4.04/1,000, and 8.24/1,000 in refresher jumps. Clinical data collected on 723 parachuting injuries included the site and type of injury. More than 90% of the injuries were caused during the landing impact. The most vulnerable sites were the ankle (35.6% of all injuries) and the spinal vertebrae (14.5% of all injuries).