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Retrospective Analysis of Mosh-Pit-Related Injuries

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 July 2017

Andrew M. Milsten ,
Joseph Tennyson Open the ORCID record for Joseph Tennyson [Opens in a new window]  and
Stacy Weisberg
Andrew M. Milsten*
Affiliation:
Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, MassachusettsUSA
Joseph Tennyson
Affiliation:
Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, MassachusettsUSA
Stacy Weisberg
Affiliation:
Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, MassachusettsUSA
*
Correspondence: Andrew Milsten, MD, MS, FACEP University of Massachusetts Emergency Medicine 55 Lake Avenue, North Worcester, Massachusetts USA 01655 E-mail: Andrew.milsten@umassmemorial.org
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Abstract

Objectives

Moshing is a violent form of dancing found world-wide at rock concerts, festivals, and electronic dance music events. It involves crowd surfing, shoving, and moving in a circular rotation. Moshing is a source of increased morbidity and mortality. The goal of this study was to report epidemiologic information on patient presentation rate (PPR), transport to hospital rate (TTHR), and injury patterns from patients who participated in mosh-pits.

Materials and Methods

Subjects were patrons from mosh-pits seeking medical care at a single venue. The events reviewed were two national concert tours which visited this venue during their tour. The eight distinct events studied occurred between 2011 and 2014. Data were collected retrospectively from prehospital patient care reports (PCRs). A single Emergency Medical Service (EMS) provided medical care at this venue. The following information was gathered from each PCR: type of injury, location of injury, treatment received, alcohol or drug use, Advanced Life Support/ALS interventions required, age and gender, disposition, minor or parent issues, as well as type of activity engaged in when injured.

Results

Attendance for the eight events ranged from 5,100 to 16,000. Total patient presentations ranged from 50 to 206 per event. Patient presentations per ten thousand (PPTT) ranged from 56 to 130. The TTHR per 10,000 ranged from seven to 20. The mean PPTT was 99 (95% CI, 77-122) and the median was 98. The mean TTHR was 16 (95% CI, 12-29) and the median TTHR was 17. Patients presenting from mosh-pits were more frequently male (57.6%; P<.004). The mean age was 20 (95% CI, 19-20). Treatment received was overwhelmingly at the Basic Life Support (BLS) level (96.8%; P<.000001). General moshing was the most common activity leading to injury. Crowd surfing was the next most significant, accounting for 20% of presentations. The most common body part injured was the head (64% of injuries).

Conclusions

This retrospective review of mosh-pit-associated injury patterns demonstrates a high rate of injuries and presentations for medical aid at the evaluated events. General moshing was the most commonly associated activity and the head was the most common body part injured.

MilstenAM, TennysonJ, WeisbergS, Retrospective Analysis of Mosh-Pit-Related Injuries. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(6):636–641.

Keywords

crowd surfingevent medicinemass-gathering medicinemosh-pitsrock concerts
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 32 , Issue 6 , December 2017 , pp. 636 - 641
Copyright
© World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2017 

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Footnotes

Conflicts of interest: none

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