26dkou194 10.3205/26dkou194 urn:nbn:de:0183-26dkou1948 Meeting Abstract Tinner Tinner Christian C

Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Schweiz

author Schenk Schenk Sofie S

Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Schweiz

author Ackermann Ackermann Arne A

Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Schweiz

author Stoerrle Stoerrle Philipp P

Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Schweiz

author Rutsch Rutsch Niklas N

Department of Neurosurgery, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Deutschland

author Deml Deml Moritz M

Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Schweiz

author Jakob Jakob Dominik D

Department of Emergency Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Schweiz

author Baja Baja Alexandru A

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Kantonsspital Graubünden, Chur, Schweiz

author Schoenborn Schoenborn Veit V

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Kantonsspital Graubünden, Chur, Schweiz

author Gewiess Gewiess Jan J

Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Schweiz

author German Medical Science GMS Publishing House

Düsseldorf

610 20261020 engl This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Dieser Artikel ist ein Open-Access-Artikel und steht unter den Lizenzbedingungen der Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (Namensnennung). M0659 194 Deutsche Gesellschaft für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie Deutsche Gesellschaft für Orthopädie und Orthopädische Chirurgie Deutsche Gesellschaft für Unfallchirurgie Berufsverband für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie Deutscher Kongress für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie (DKOU 2026) Abstracts | Wirbelsäuleninfektionen, Klassifikationen und Risikostratifizierung Berlin 20261020 20261023 DKOU26_Abs_2039 TextObjectives and questions: To determine whether wearing a back protector influences the incidence, anatomical distribution, and severity of spinal injuries in mountain biking (MTB) accidents.Material and methods: We conducted a retrospective bicentric cohort study using medical emergency records from 2018–2023 complemented by a standardized questionnaire. Eligible participants were ≥16 years old with a documented MTB-related accident and 211 respondents were included. Based on self-reported protector use, riders were assigned to a back-protector or control group. The primary endpoint was the presence of a spinal injury; secondary endpoints included injury number, anatomical location, severity according to the AO Spine Classification, Injury Severity Score (ISS), and accident characteristics. Propensity score matching with replacement was applied to control for age, sex, and self-rated skill level, yielding 214 weighted cases for analysis. Weighted statistical tests and regression models were used to compare outcomes between groups.Results: A total of 162 spinal injuries occurred among 85 participants. After matching, the cohort had a mean age of 36 ± 11 years and was predominantly male (81%). The prevalence of spinal injury did not differ significantly between riders wearing versus not wearing a back protector. The anatomical distribution was similar across groups, with the thoracic spine most frequently affected (61%). Injury severity differed significantly: B-type injuries occurred more often without a back protector (62% vs. 33%), while A-type compression injuries were more common among protector users (42% vs. 28%) (p = 0.032). ISS tended to be lower in the protector group, though the weighted comparison narrowly missed statistical significance. Accident circumstances, self-reported speed, and behavioral factors did not differ between groups.Discussion and conclusions: Back protectors did not reduce the overall rate of spinal injuries in MTB accidents but were associated with less severe injury patterns. These findings suggest a potential protective effect on injury severity and highlight the need for prospective studies and MTB-specific protector standards. 0 0 0 0