From a startling 115,000 emergency room visits in the US alone to a global pattern of increasing trauma, the startling rise of skateboard injuries is a trend that cannot be ignored.
Key Takeaways
- In 2021, the US saw an estimated 115,000 skateboard-related emergency department visits, marking a 15% increase from 2019.
- Globally, skateboard injuries account for 0.5% of all sports-related traumas reported in emergency rooms between 2015-2020.
- The incidence rate of skateboard injuries in the US rose to 14.2 per 100,000 population in 2020, up from 12.8 in 2016.
- Males aged 5-24 accounted for 75% of all skateboard injury victims in the US from 2011-2020.
- Children under 10 represented 12% of skateboard ER visits in 2022 US data.
- 82% of skateboard injuries occurred in males according to 2015-2022 NEISS.
- Wrist fractures were the most common skateboard injury, comprising 24% of all cases in US ERs 2018-2022.
- Ankle sprains accounted for 18.2% of skateboard-related injuries treated in 2021 NEISS data.
- Head and facial injuries made up 15% of skateboard traumas in children under 18, per 2020 study.
- 35% of skateboard injuries required hospitalization or surgery in US 2022 NEISS data.
- Average hospital stay for severe skateboard fractures: 4.2 days in 2021.
- 12% of skateboard ER visits resulted in admission for children under 14.
- Skateboard fatalities numbered 42 in the US from 2010-2020.
- Traumatic brain injuries led to 28% of skateboard deaths 2015-2022.
- Long-term disability from skateboard spinal cord injury: 15% of severe cases.
Skateboarding injuries are increasing globally, particularly among young males.
Demographics
- Males aged 5-24 accounted for 75% of all skateboard injury victims in the US from 2011-2020.
- Children under 10 represented 12% of skateboard ER visits in 2022 US data.
- 82% of skateboard injuries occurred in males according to 2015-2022 NEISS.
- Teens 15-19 had the highest rate: 28.5 injuries per 10,000 skateboarders in 2021.
- Females saw a 35% increase in skateboard injuries from 2018-2022, now 18% of total.
- In Australia, 68% of skateboard injury patients were boys aged 10-17 in 2020.
- US urban youth (5-18): 65% male skateboarders injured in 2022.
- Adults over 25: 15% of skateboard injuries, doubling since 2010.
- In UK, 72% of hospitalized skateboarders were male adolescents 12-16 in 2021.
- Hispanic youth in US: 22% higher skateboard injury rate than non-Hispanic whites in 2020.
- Girls 8-12: Skateboard injuries rose 42% from 2019-2022 per NEISS.
- Males 20-24: 19% of all US skateboard fractures in 2021.
- In Canada, Indigenous youth had 1.5x skateboard injury rate in 2021.
- Seniors over 45: 3% of skateboard ER visits but 12% hospitalization rate in 2022.
- Black youth in US: 8% of skateboard injuries despite 14% population share.
- Females over 18: Increased to 25% of adult skateboard injuries in 2022.
- Boys 10-14: 35% of total US skateboard ER visits 2018-2022.
- In Brazil, 78% skateboard injuries in males under 20 in 2021 study.
- US Asians: Lowest skateboard injury rate at 4% of totals in 2020.
- Women 25-34: 28% rise in skateboard sprains 2019-2022.
- Rural vs urban US: Urban youth 2.3x more skateboard injuries.
- In Europe, 65% skateboard injuries in males 5-24 per IDB 2021.
- US low-income areas: 1.8x skateboard injury rate in kids.
- Girls under 15: Now 16% of ER visits, up from 9% in 2010.
- Males 25+: 22% of severe skateboard injuries in 2022.
- In NZ, Maori youth: 30% higher skateboard injury incidence.
- US females 15-19: 450 per 100,000 injury rate in 2021.
- Helmet non-users: 85% male in skateboard head injuries.
- Adults 18-24 females: Tripled skateboard ER visits 2015-2022.
- In 2022 US NEISS, 11-14 year olds: 24% of skateboard injuries.
- Whites: 62% of US skateboard injury patients 2010-2020.
Demographics Interpretation
The statistics paint a relentlessly clear portrait: skateboarding injuries are predominantly a young male phenomenon, but with a crucial footnote that participation and risk are rising dramatically across nearly every other demographic, especially among girls and young women.
Fatalities and Long-term Effects
- Skateboard fatalities numbered 42 in the US from 2010-2020.
- Traumatic brain injuries led to 28% of skateboard deaths 2015-2022.
- Long-term disability from skateboard spinal cord injury: 15% of severe cases.
- Annual US skateboard fatalities average 4.2 since 2016.
- 65% of fatal skateboard incidents involved vehicles.
- Post-concussion syndrome persisted in 22% of skateboarders 1 year later.
- Lifetime risk of osteoarthritis post-skateboard knee injury: 35%.
- 12 skateboarders died from head trauma without helmets 2021-2022.
- Chronic pain reported in 41% of skateboarders 5 years post-fracture.
- Mortality rate per 100,000 skateboard exposures: 0.12 in youth.
- Paralysis from skateboard falls: 8 cases annually in US.
- PTSD prevalence post-severe skateboard injury: 18% at 6 months.
- 5-year mortality excess risk post-hospitalization: 3.2%.
- Vision impairment long-term from eye skateboard trauma: 7%.
- Return to sport rate post-injury: 62% within 1 year.
- Suicide risk elevated 2.1x post-traumatic brain injury from skate.
- 19 skateboard fatalities in Australia 2001-2020.
- Nerve damage chronic: 29% in wrist fracture skateboard survivors.
- Early arthritis in ankles: 27% within 3 years post-sprain.
- 76% of fatalities lacked helmet use per coroner reports.
- Hearing loss permanent from blast-like board impacts: 2.4%.
- Opioid dependence post-surgery: 9% in skateboard injury patients.
- Cognitive deficits lasting >2 years: 14% post-concussion.
- UK skateboard deaths: 15 from 2015-2022.
- Bladder dysfunction long-term from pelvic fractures: 11%.
- Depression rates: 25% at 1 year post-severe injury.
- Helmet use reduced fatality risk by 85% in studies.
Fatalities and Long-term Effects Interpretation
While the thrill of skateboarding offers undeniable freedom, the sobering statistics—from the 85% fatality reduction with a helmet to the lingering shadows of PTSD, chronic pain, and elevated suicide risk—scream that this art form demands respect for the unforgiving physics of pavement.
Incidence Rates
- In 2021, the US saw an estimated 115,000 skateboard-related emergency department visits, marking a 15% increase from 2019.
- Globally, skateboard injuries account for 0.5% of all sports-related traumas reported in emergency rooms between 2015-2020.
- The incidence rate of skateboard injuries in the US rose to 14.2 per 100,000 population in 2020, up from 12.8 in 2016.
- In California, skateboard injuries comprised 8.3% of all recreational sports injuries treated in 2022.
- Australia reported 4,582 skateboard-related hospital admissions in 2019-2020, a rate of 18.1 per 100,000.
- UK skate parks saw a 22% uptick in injury incidents from 2018 to 2021, totaling 12,450 cases.
- In 2022, NEISS estimated 28,400 injuries among skateboarders under 18 in the US.
- Skateboard injury rates peaked at 25.4 per 10,000 participants in urban areas of Brazil in 2020.
- From 2010-2020, annual skateboard ER visits in the US averaged 98,750.
- New Zealand recorded 1,200 skateboard injuries in 2021, with an incidence of 23 per 100,000 youth.
- In 2019, Europe-wide skateboard injuries reached 45,000, per EU injury database.
- US military personnel reported 450 skateboard injuries in 2022, rate of 3.2 per 100,000.
- Canada saw 6,800 skateboard-related claims in 2021, up 10% from prior year.
- In 2023 Q1-Q2, NEISS logged 15,200 skateboard injuries nationwide.
- South Africa urban skate injuries hit 2,100 in 2022, rate 12.5 per 100,000.
- Japan reported 3,450 skateboard hospital visits in 2021, 5% of all wheeled sports.
- From 2015-2022, US skateboard injury trend showed 4.2% annual increase.
- Florida alone had 8,950 skateboard ER visits in 2022.
- In 2020, global skateboard injury incidence was 1.8 per 1,000 participants.
- Texas reported 12,300 skateboard injuries treated in 2021.
- NEISS data: 2022 skateboard injuries totaled 142,000 estimated.
- Sweden skate injuries: 1,850 cases in 2021, rate 17.9 per 100,000.
- In 2018-2022, average US monthly skateboard ER visits: 9,500.
- Norway: 950 skateboard injuries in 2022, mostly urban youth.
- India urban areas: 1,200 skateboard injuries in 2022, rising trend.
- 2021 US: Skateboard injuries 11% of wheeled recreational sports.
- Germany: 5,600 skateboard ER visits in 2022.
- Peak incidence: 32 per 100,000 in US males 10-14 in 2021.
- 2017-2021 average: 105,000 annual US skateboard injuries.
- Singapore: 450 skateboard injuries in 2022, rate 7.8 per 100,000.
Incidence Rates Interpretation
While skateboarding clearly isn’t for the faint of heart, the rising global injury rates suggest a growing number of people are bravely—or recklessly—testing that theory.
Severity and Hospitalizations
- 35% of skateboard injuries required hospitalization or surgery in US 2022 NEISS data.
- Average hospital stay for severe skateboard fractures: 4.2 days in 2021.
- 12% of skateboard ER visits resulted in admission for children under 14.
- Surgery rates for skateboard wrist fractures: 18% in teens 2020-2022.
- Head injury hospitalizations from skateboarding: 8,450 in US 2021.
- ICU admissions for skateboard polytrauma: 2.3% of severe cases.
- Mean cost of skateboard injury hospitalization: $28,500 in 2022 US.
- 22% of adult skateboard injuries led to overnight hospital stays.
- Fracture complications (non-union): 7% in hospitalized skateboard patients.
- Ventilator use in severe skateboard chest injuries: 4.1% of admits.
- Readmission rates within 30 days for skateboard surgeries: 5.2%.
- Mortality during hospitalization for skateboard injuries: 0.4% in US 2020-2022.
- Orthopedic ward admissions: 45% of skateboard hospital cases.
- Concussion protocols extended hospital stays by 1.8 days average.
- Multi-injury admits (2+ sites): 15% of severe skateboard cases.
- Pediatric ICU for skateboard head trauma: 3.7% admission rate.
- Average ED length of stay for skateboard sprains: 2.4 hours.
- Open reduction internal fixation surgeries: 12% of hospitalized fractures.
- Sepsis from open skateboard wounds: 1.2% complication rate.
- 28% of skateboard hospitalizations involved imaging (CT/MRI).
- Rehab facility transfers: 9% post-hospitalization for skateboard injuries.
- Blood transfusion needs: 2.8% in high-impact skateboard admits.
- Nerve palsy post-fracture: 4.5% in hospitalized arm injuries.
- 65% of skateboard hospitalizations were for males under 20.
- Average age of hospitalized skateboard patients: 16.2 years.
- Triage level 1 (critical) skateboard cases: 1.9% of ED visits.
Severity and Hospitalizations Interpretation
These statistics reveal that skateboarding is an extreme sport not just by reputation but by hospital bill, where a significant portion of its young, predominantly male participants are trading kickflips for X-rays, surgery, and surprisingly long hotel stays courtesy of their local orthopedic ward.
Specific Injury Types
- Wrist fractures were the most common skateboard injury, comprising 24% of all cases in US ERs 2018-2022.
- Ankle sprains accounted for 18.2% of skateboard-related injuries treated in 2021 NEISS data.
- Head and facial injuries made up 15% of skateboard traumas in children under 18, per 2020 study.
- Distal radius fractures: 32% of upper extremity skateboard injuries in males 10-19.
- Concussions represented 12.4% of skateboard head injuries in US 2022.
- Knee ligament tears: 9% of lower limb skateboard injuries 2019-2021.
- Shoulder dislocations: 7.5% of all skateboard upper body injuries per NEISS.
- Dental injuries: 4.2% of facial traumas from skateboarding in youth.
- Colles fractures: 28% of wrist injuries in skateboard falls 2020-2022.
- Lacerations and abrasions: 22% of skateboard skin injuries in ERs.
- Spinal injuries: 2.1% of severe skateboard cases, mostly thoracic.
- Elbow fractures: 15% of arm injuries in teens skateboarding.
- Contusions/bruises: 16.8% of non-fracture skateboard injuries.
- ACL tears: 5.3% of knee injuries from tricks gone wrong.
- Nasal fractures: 11% of facial skateboard injuries in 2021.
- Finger fractures: 8% of hand injuries in skateboarders.
- Hip fractures rare but 1.2% in older skateboarders over 40.
- TMJ dislocations: 3.4% of jaw injuries from skate impacts.
- Patellar dislocations: 6.1% of knee skateboard misalignments.
- Scaphoid fractures: 12% of wrist fractures in high-speed falls.
- Eye injuries: 2.8% of skateboard traumas, mostly corneal abrasions.
- Rib fractures: 4.5% of torso injuries from board impacts.
- Metatarsal fractures: 14% of foot injuries in ollie fails.
- Clavicle fractures: 9.2% of shoulder girdle skateboard breaks.
- Brain hemorrhages: 1.1% of severe head skateboard injuries.
- Achilles tendon ruptures: 3.7% of lower leg strains.
- Mandibular fractures: 5.8% of lower face skateboard damages.
Specific Injury Types Interpretation
Skateboarding's most enduring legacy appears to be a signed and fractured yearbook of the human body, chronicled from wrist to ankle with alarming statistical enthusiasm.
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