[Traumatology and sport injuries in professional and amateur show-jumping competitors].

The objective of this study was to investigate the frequency, extent, and effective preventive measures of sport injuries in professional and amateur-show jumping competitors. In a retrospective study design, 264 show-jumping riders (105 professionals, 159 amateurs) were interviewed by means of a standardised questionnaire. In total, 636 injuries were reported in detail. Injuries were categorised into severity grade I (36.0 %) (not requiring medical attention), grade II (34.6 %) (single medical treatment), grade III (20.9 %) (several outpatient medical treatments) and grade IV (8.5 %) (requiring hospitalisation). Specifically, 40.9 % of the reported injuries to professional riders and 23.9 % of those to amateurs were classified as severe (grade III or IV). The time-related injury rate in professional athletes was 1.1 / 1000 h compared to 2.1 / 1000 h in amateurs. The predominating types of sustained injuries were contusions (22 %), articular sprains (16 %) and abrasions (16 %). Fractures were reported in 12 % of all injuries. There were 95 head injuries (15 %). The ratio between injured lower and upper extremities was 1.12 in professional athletes and 0.85 in amateur riders. Persistent pain at any site was reported by 33.7 %. Helmet use was reported in 89 % of professional and 94 % of amateur riders. In spite of a high level of expertise and longer experience, professional show-jumping riders seem to be at higher risk for sustaining severe injuries. Both performance-oriented style of riding and readiness to assume risk are presumably factors leading to this increased rate of severe injuries. No significant differences were seen between the use of safety measures in amateur and professional athletes. While most of the riders indicated the regular use of protective head gear, craniocerebral injuries are still frequent. Taken together, besides a circumspect riding style, the wearing of helmets remains the most important safety measure. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.