Parachuting injuries: a retrospective study of 43,542 military jumps.

Parachuting is regarded as relatively safe. This study was conducted to describe the rates and patterns of parachuting injuries at the Parachuting Israeli Training Center to those at other training centers. Data on 43,542 military jumps were collected from accident reports and flight manifests. Two categories of injuries were defined: major (fractures, dislocation, head trauma) and minor (contusion, bruises, sprains). The overall injury rate was 0.89%. The injury rate for major injuries was 0.21%; the most frequent major injuries were ankle fractures and head trauma. The minor injury rate was 0.68%; the most frequent minor injury was ankle sprain. We conclude that our data at the parachuting center matched those at other training centers in terms of injury rate and distribution of injuries.