HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:
Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Johnson, R. J. Articles by Ettlinger, C. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Johnson, R. J. Articles by Ettlinger, C.

Knee injury in skiing

A multifaceted approach

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Vermont, College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont

Malcolm H. Pope, PH.D.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Vermont, College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont

Gerald Weisman, B.E.M.E.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Vermont, College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont

Bruce F. White

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Vermont, College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont

Carl Ettlinger, M.S.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Vermont, College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont

During the past four ski seasons, all 1,141 ski injuries which occurred in a large northern Vermont ski area were evaluated prospectively. Of these injuries, 21.6% involved knee ligaments and 18.6% involved sprains of the medial collateral ligament. Females sustained a disproportionately high incidence of Grade I medial collateral sprains, but suffered the more severe sprains at a rate similar to that of males. Individuals who were smaller, younger, less experienced, and less skilled sustained a higher incidence of Grade I injuries. Skiers suffering complete tears of the medial collateral ligament were no smaller, younger, or less skilled or experienced than our control population. Medial collateral sprains are produced primarily by external rotation and vaigus forces. Two-mode release bindings are insensitive to several loading configurations which could produce knee sprains. Bindings which allow release in roll, shear, and twist at the heel, as well as twist at the toe and forward lean, appear to be necessary to protect the knee.