Complete aortic rupture following wakeboarding accident

Abstract

Wakeboarding is a sport associated with various types of injuries, primarily affecting the upper and lower limbs. In this case, a 44-year-old man fell from a ramp while wakeboarding and barely managed to reach the shore before dying shortly afterward. An autopsy revealed a complete rupture of the thoracic aorta along with a fracture of the fourth thoracic vertebra. It is likely that several mechanisms contributed to these injuries, either individually or in combination: concussive, rotational, and tensile forces. Additionally, it is plausible that the rupture occurred in two stages, with an initial partial injury worsening during subsequent movements or attempts at rescue and resuscitation. This is the first reported case of death resulting from a ruptured aorta due to wakeboarding, highlighting a potential consequence of this sport.