Prevention and Management of Fractures with Seasonal Prevalence in Winter

Seasonal variations of fractures are concerned with seasonal sports injuries and pathologic fractures in elderly osteoporotic patients. Despite various attempts at prevention, injuries in downhill skiing especially free style, snowboarding, snowmobile, and tobogganing continue to be seasonal recreational problem. Knee injuries in skiing can be prevented by health education as well as self-releasing test for the binder. Injury of the upper extremity in snowboarding and of the spine in snowmobile also can be reduced by education program. Another aspect of seasonal variation of fractures is related to the osteoporosis in elderly patients. Distal radius fractures, hip fractures, and compression fractures of the spine are common problems in winter. The high incidences these fractures in winter are not only due to ice and snow but also related to the daylight hours and level of vitamin D. So we can reduce the incidence of these fractures by snow clearing, sand and salt spreading in strategic areas, slip-preventive aids on shoes, sometimes padding for older women, and most of all, early detection and treatment of osteoporosis in elderly people.