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. 2022 Jul 22;22(1):1404.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-13810-9.

Cervical spine injuries occurring at the beach: epidemiology, mechanism of injury and risk factors

Ogilvie Thom  1   2   3 , Kym Roberts  4   5 , Peter A Leggat  5   6 , Sue Devine  5 , Amy E Peden  5   7   8 , Richard C Franklin  5   7
Affiliations

Cervical spine injuries occurring at the beach: epidemiology, mechanism of injury and risk factors

Ogilvie Thom et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Objective: Surf zone injuries include cervical spine injuries (CSI). Risk factors for CSI have not been extensively investigated. The objective was to examine risk factors associated with diagnosed CSI that occurred in a beach setting.

Methods: This retrospective case series used manually linked data from Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service Emergency Departments, Queensland Ambulance Service, Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ), and Bureau of Meteorology data from 01/01/2015-21/04/2021. Variables included victim demographics, mechanism of injury, scene information, and patient course.

Results: Seventy-nine of the 574 (13.8%) confirmed CSI occurred at the beach. Local residents and visitors were injured equally. Females represented a minority (12.7%) of those diagnosed with CSI but were a higher proportion of suspected spinal incidents reported to SLSQ (45%). Surfers were more likely to be injured through shallow water diving than swimmers (27.6% vs 2.2%). Females were more likely to be injured by shallow water diving than males (30.0% vs 8.7%). Visitors were more likely to be injured swimming and local residents surfing (68.2% vs 77.8% respectively). CSI occurred most commonly (40.0%) with a below average ocean wave height (0.75-1.25 m) and were most likely (45.3%) to occur in the second half of the outgoing tide. One beach had a statistically significant greater incidence of spinal incidents (OR 3.9, 95% CI: 2.1-7.2) and of CSI (OR 10.7, 95% CI: 1.5-79.5).

Conclusions: Risk factors for CSI at the beach include male sex, smaller wave height and an outgoing tide. Shallow water diving among surfers and females should be addressed urgently.

Keywords: Cervical spine injury; Risk of drowning; Shallow water diving.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Graphical representation of wave height at time of CSI (a), n= 64 and combined suspected and confirmed spinal incidents (b) occurring at the beach
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Tide level at time of CSI (a) and combined suspected and confirmed spinal injuries (b) occurring at the beach
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
a Hazardous shore break at Mooloolaba Beach, b Warning sign at Mooloolaba Beach
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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