Rocks & Rolls Climbers requiring the assistance of the Mountain Rescue Service in NW Wales are often presented to Ysbyty Gwynedd Hospital, Bangor. This retrospective study examines the pattern of injuries suffered by these casualties. METHOD We examined the case-notes of all injured climbers treated in Ysbyty Gwynedd Emergency Department following assistance by Mountain Rescue services 01/01/04-31/01/09. RESULTS We identified 41 climbing casualties in the 5-year period. Mechanism of Injury 39/41 (95.1%) were fallers: mean fall height of 22.5m (median 9.1m, range 2.1m-220m) Pattern of Injury 41 of a total of 120 injuries were to the extremities, 37 of these involving a fracture, with the ankle/foot being the most common site of fracture (11/37, 29.7%). Severity of Injury Mean ISS was 11 (median 5, range 1-75). 7/41 sustained major trauma (ISS >15), with 4 of these 7 casualties classified as massive trauma (ISS >40) including two fatalities (ISS 43 and 75 respectively) both of whom were dead at the scene. Severity of climbing injuries in Snowdonia Dr Edward Taylor FP1 Doctor, Morriston Hospital Dr Linda Dykes Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Ysbyty Gwynedd DISCUSSION The predominance of injuries to the lower limb implies a feet-first position at impact in most cases. This, plus use of ropes & safety equipment, probably accounts for the relatively modest severity of injury in most cases, despite impressive fall heights. Nevertheless, 17% of these climbing casualties were severely injured, and attention should be paid to primary prevention.

Severity of Climbing Injuries in Snowdonia - Conference Poster

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Page 1: Severity of Climbing Injuries in Snowdonia - Conference Poster

METHOD

We examined the case-notes of all injured climbers treated in YsbytyGwynedd Emergency Department following assistance by MountainRescue services 01/01/04-31/01/09.

RESULTS

We identified 41 climbing casualties in the 5-year period.

Mechanism of Injury

39/41 (95.1%) were fallers: mean fall height of 22.5m(median 9.1m, range 2.1m-220m)

Pattern of Injury

41 of a total of 120 injurieswere to the extremities, 37of these involving a fracture,with the ankle/foot beingthe most common siteof fracture (11/37, 29.7%).

Severity of Injury

Mean ISS was 11 (median 5, range1-75). 7/41 sustained majortrauma (ISS >15), with 4 ofthese 7 casualties classifiedas massive trauma (ISS>40) including twofatalities (ISS 43 and75 respectively) bothof whom weredead at thescene.

Severity of climbing injuries in Snowdonia

Dr Edward Taylor FP1 Doctor, Morriston Hospital

Dr Linda DykesConsultant in Emergency Medicine, Ysbyty Gwynedd

DISCUSSION

The predominance ofinjuries to the lower limbimplies a feet-first positionat impact in most cases.This, plus use of ropes &safety equipment, probablyaccounts for the relativelymodest severity of

injury in most cases, despiteimpressive fall heights.Nevertheless, 17% of theseclimbing casualties wereseverely injured, andattention should be paidto primary prevention.