Snowboarding splenic injury: four case reports.

With the rapidly increasing number of snowboarders, the incidence of injuries has recently become higher. From 1994 to 1995, we encountered four snowboarders with splenic injuries in one season. In three of the four patients the splenic injuries were caused by striking the abdomen with their own elbow when falling by themselves, of which emergent splenectomy was required in two patients. In the other one the collision with another snowboarder caused the splenic injury and splenorrhaphy was performed. Because snowboarders have both feet fixed on a board and do not have poles, they are prone to fall on the left upper limb in the proceeding direction, resulting in the striking of the left upper abdomen. Because in snowboarders splenic injury is caused mostly by a blow from their own left elbow at the time of falling, informing the mechanisms of splenic injuries will serve a speedy correct diagnosis for the doctors.