Snowboarding injuries: General patterns, with a focus on talus fractures

Injury patterns in snowboarding differ from those in Alpine skiing. Snowboarders tend to have fewer knee and thumb injuries than skiers but more upper-extremity trauma, fractures in general, and ankle injuries. Of particular concern in snowboarding is fracture of the lateral process of the talus (LPT), which masquerades as an inversion ankle sprain, is often missed, and can lead to significant disability. Signs are typically similar to those of inversion sprains, but pain on palpation of the lateral process can be helpful in diagnosis. Standard radiographs often do not show the fracture, so CT or lateral tomography may be required. The most minor, nondisplaced LPT injuries may heal with casting and rehab, but more severe fractures typically require surgery.