Mayhem on the ice: do players' injuries put team staff at risk of injury?

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the potential for serious injury and the nature of injuries incurred as team staff or support personnel cross ice surfaces to get to players' benches or to attend to injured players.

DESIGN

Hybrid study, case series with survey.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Circumstances and nature of reported injuries.

RESULTS

Over 4 seasons, 988 injuries to team staff or support personnel were reported, including 94 concussions, 5 injuries to internal organs, 226 fractures, and 86 separations or dislocations. Most of the injuries were incurred by team staff or support personnel responsible for the welfare of players (managers, trainers, therapists, and emergency medical staff).

CONCLUSION

Team staff and support personnel incur serious injuries as a result of falls on the ice. Several preventive strategies can be put in place: changes in rink design, policies restricting access to the ice surface, and encouraging team staff and support personnel who must cross the ice surface to attend to injured players to wear gait-stabilizing devices.