[Paraplegia due to sports and bathing accidents (author's transl)]

Abstract

An analysis of 2346 paraplegics treated in the Heidelberg University orthopaedic hospital showed that 194 of the lesions (= 8,3%) were caused by accidents during sports and bathing. Of 123 bathing accidents, 98.4% produced a lesion of the cevical part of the medulla, the site of paresis being mostly below C 5 or C 6. The predominant accident mechanism of the most frequently occurring luxation fractures was hyperextension and hyperflexion. 71 of the 194 cases (= 36,6%) were genuine sports accidents. 35 cases of tetraplegia occured preferably during gymnastics, jumping on the trampoline, and high-tower diving, whereas 36 paraplegias were due to accidents during riding, skiing and mountaineering. Flexion and compression fractures mainly concern the pelvic region of the vertebral column. Only 4 of the 194 injured patients (= 2.1%) died as a result of their accident.