Abstract
Introduction: Rock climbing is a popular activity that poses various injury risks, including falls, equipment failures, physical stress from climbing, and contact with falling objects. We aimed to quantify emergent dermatological injuries and conditions Methods: We used the NEISS database that collates data from over 100 emergency rooms and applied filters to analyze rock climbing injury and skin condition data from 2019 and 2023 for demographics, anatomical location, and types of injuries and conditions. Results: A total of 166 patient vignettes with 186 injuries were included. The majority of the climbers with dermatological injuries were male (64%), with the most common injuries found to be contusions or abrasions (n = 109) and the most common injury sites being the upper extremities (n = 61) and the head/neck (n = 50). Discussion: These results emphasize the need for targeted preventive measures to reduce the incidence of dermatological injuries among rock climbers, considering that the severity and impact of these injuries can be significant (e.g., lacerations) and prevalent in cosmetically sensitive areas (head/neck). Additional research should also be performed at ambulatory and outpatient settings to identify less emergent dermatological conditions associated with the sport and allow for appropriate guidance for those conditions.