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Head injuries constitute about 15% to 20% of the 600,000 skiing and snowboarding injuries in North America each year, and children sustain twice as many head, face, and neck injuries as other age groups. To determine whether helmets protect against head injuries without increasing risk for spinal cord or neck injuries, investigators conducted a systematic review of studies on helmet use and injuries in skiers and snowboarders. Of 45 studies identified, 10 met inclusion criteria; most studies included children or young adults.
Four case-control studies (involving >15,000 skiers and snowboarders) showed a reduction in risk for head injury with helmet use ranging from 15% to 60%. The remaining studies (2 retrospective cohort studies, 3 case ser…