Rocks & RollsClimbers requiring the assistance of the Mountain Rescue Service in NW Walesare often presented to Ysbyty Gwynedd Hospital, Bangor. This retrospectivestudy examines the pattern of injuries suffered by these casualties.

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.