ABSTRACT

Patients are presented in this study to describe injuries, each of which have not been previously described in the literature, as a result of a specific mechanism of injury on a water slide. Some of these injuries are potentially fatal and are usually the result of a very high energy mechanism of injury. All injuries occurred in a six-week time span in the summer of 2015. Injuries arising from water slides and their definitive treatments were documented. All of the cases presented to St Ann’s Bay Hospital in St Ann Jamaica. The mechanism of injury was analysed with a view to implement preventative measures. Three cases had open book pelvic injuries and one of them also had a vaginal tear. All the open book injuries occurred after the patron’s thighs violently abducted despite adhering to the recommended starting position which suggested that they to cross their legs. The fourth case is a 25-year old male who sustained a posterior shoulder dislocation as a result of his arms flailing despite attempting to adhere to the rule recommending that the patron to place his arms across the chest. The final case is a 14-year old male who was involved in an atypical collision injury which resulted in him receiving a displaced distal femoral fracture. Modern water slides will expose patrons to more frequent and severe injuries from atypical mechanism of injuries. Risk factors for injury must be factored into preventative measures. Improved surveillance strategies to monitor these injuries are suggested.