Anästhesiol Intensivmed Notfallmed Schmerzther 2018; 53(S 01): S4
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1675483
Abstracts
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Aviation accidents in the Austrian Mountains – A 10-year retrospective study

M Ströhle
1   Department of General and Surgical Critical Care Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
,
B Wallner
1   Department of General and Surgical Critical Care Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
,
S Woyke
1   Department of General and Surgical Critical Care Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
,
M Brodmann-Maeder
1   Department of General and Surgical Critical Care Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
,
H Brugger
1   Department of General and Surgical Critical Care Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
,
P Paal
1   Department of General and Surgical Critical Care Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
14 November 2018 (online)

 

Goal of the Study:

In Austrian mountains a large number of people indulge in aviation sports. The present study aimed to describe the epidemiology and injury patterns of aviation accidents in the Austrian mountains and secondly to identify risk factors. Finally, advice on accident prevention and emergency care treatment for victims of aviation accidents is provided.

Methods:

In this retrospective cohort study, out-of-hospital data of all patients, who had sustained an accident during aviation sports from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2015 in the Austrian Mountains, were assessed. Secondary out-of-hospital data were merged and compared with the in-hospital data of patients treated in the Innsbruck Medical University Hospital.

Results and Discussion:

2037 victims in nationwide sports aviation accidents were analysed for circumstances, flight phase, epidemiology and cause of aviation accidents. This was compared to 126 patients medical data available at Innsbruck Medical University Hospital. Most victims were male with a mean age of 35 years. Most of them were Austrian ore German. Accidents occurred frequently in sunny (76.2%) summer afternoon (61.2%). Wind (36.5%) and pilot errors (31.7%) were the most frequent reason for accident. Paragliders resulted the largest group of patients (n = 105, 83.3%). Fifty-one victims (40.5%) fell from a height that was greater than 10 m. Rescue operations were mainly undertaken by helicopter or by combined rescue (terrestrial and helicopter) (n = 100, 79.3%.). The ISS was 15.0 ± 15.5. The Injury severity score (ISS) had two peaks in distribution, one lower peak in patients with single injuries, especially to the lower extremities (ISS 1 – 10; 57.9%) and a second peak in multiple trauma patients (ISS > 15; 34.9%).

Conclusions:

Young male Austrian and German citizens performing paragliding are at the highest risk to suffer an aviation accident. Wind and pilot errors are the main cause for the accidents. These accidents frequently result in multiple trauma patients suffering spine and chest injuries with persisting neurological deficiencies. Though protection devices are obligatory in Austria, injuries like fractures of the spine and ankles are still common. Protective gear should be improved. Due to the high frequent spine injuries quick and effective immobilization is a crucial part of the treatment.