Surfing injuries At waikiki
R. H. Allen, B. Eiseman, C. J. Straehley and B. G. Orloff
A 56-month survey of 36 hospitalized patients injured while surfing off
Oahu, Hawaii, indicated that 34% of the injuries involved the head and
spine. Bodysurfing involves a considerable risk of craniospinal injury if
the head is driven into the sand. The most frequent injury in surfboarding
is being hit by a loose board. Risk of injury in surfboarding is
approximately one per 17,500 surfing days--an incidence far below most
sports.
