MILITARY STATIC LINE PARACHUTE INJURIES

A prospective study of 8886 military static line parachute descents causing 63 injuries including one fatality, is presented. The overall injury rate was 7.1 per 1000 descents. The injury rate was significantly greater when combat equipment was carried (13.7 per 1000), and greater still with tactical flying and simultaneous door exits (16.6 per 1000). These rates are both higher than those reported in other military studies, and higher than those in civilian studies. However, civilian parachutists sustain more fractures than military parachutists, most likely due to lower standards of fitness and training. The types of injuries which are now sustained have changed markedly from those first seen in the mass parachute deployments of World War Two. Fracture-dislocation of the shoulder has become the new 'paratroopers's fracture'. This injury occurs most commonly in descents with cross-winds of greater than 10 knots.