The difference between being a mediocre snowboarder and great one is often just being able to ride consistently without injury. Granted, if you go snowboarding you will fall and if you want to progress, you will fall a lot...and VERY hard. Riding has its common injuries like arms, wrists and hands, but here are a few injuries you definitely want to avoid for various reasons.

Okay.

Not okay.

Dislocated Shoulder
Ever wave goodbye to someone only to have your shoulder drop right out of its socket? All it takes is one solid dislocation followed by a lack of proper healing for it to become a lifelong hindrance. After a shoulder blowout make sure to get it put back in by a medical professional; even if it slips in by itself you should still get it checked afterwards to ensure no permanent damage was done. Next, (and this is the important part) do not snowboard or do any other activity again until it is 100% healed and you have physio'd the crap out of it. A few months off the snow is better than a lifetime with a sloppy shoulder joint.

Don't fall on outstretched arms. Don't claim your tricks. Keeping your arms below shoulder height at all times (even when bailing hard) will help keep everything together.

Dislocated Hip
Extremely painful and common in both horrific car accidents and high speed snowboard bails (that can be as violent as a car crash). Dislocation in snowboarding is likely due to the large rotational forces, abduction and external rotation applied to the hip by the board during a fall. Not many words of wisdom here; it will hurt. Please go to the doctor.

MFR gets a stomach massage from a rail.

Concussions

"Frequently defined as a head injury with a transient loss of brain function, a concussion can cause a variety of physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms."

"Repeated concussions can cause cumulative brain damage such as dementia pugilistica or severe complications such as second-impact syndrome."
[Wikipedia]

If these words alone don't scare you into wearing a helmet every time you strap in, remember that some symptoms include loss of interest in favorite activities (snowboarding???) and displays of emotion. Can you think of a worse penalty?

Plenty of rest, observation to monitor for worsening condition, and a gradual return to normal activity is the prescribed treatment for post-concussion, but seeing a professional is recommended. Psychotic disorders, loss of long-term memory, and the risk of developing clinical depression are just a few of the joys you can look forward too if you keep knocking yourself silly over the years trying to learn new maneuvers.

Just ask Chris Dufficy; after repeated concussions almost ended his career, he's one pro you won't see riding without a helmet.

Internal Injuries
Ruptured spleens, kidney beats, cracked ribs poking into lungs, internal bleeding...the list goes on and none of it is pretty.  Depending on where it occurs internal bleeding can land you in the Intensive Care Unit just as fast as the resort can call the helicopter to come drag your sorry ass off the mountain. Hope you have insurance if you're riding outside of Canada, as those heli-vac rides are budget killers.

Broken Femur
The femur is the longest and largest bone in the human body, not to mention the strongest. Capable of supporting up to 30 times the weight of the human body just imagine the force it will take to snap this sucker in two. Your buddies will hear the crack from the base lodge.

Painful? Yes.
Extremely Dangerous? Check.
Driving yourself to the hospital after this? Nope.

Cosmetic damage
This may sound vain, but cosmetic damage is something you want to avoid at all costs, often because of the repair bill. Eating your knee for lunch after a hard landing and knocking all your teeth out ends up being way more expensive than letting your health care cover a little plaster arm cast.

Bizarre Accidents
Some of the worst injuries happen when you are least expecting it and snowboarding's elite aren't immune to these accidents either. Ex-Forum pro Mike Page was just cruising down the mountain from an after hours pipe shoot when he rode straight into an unmarked cat winch cable strung across the hill. After nearly dismembering his legs at the knee he went on to shred again at a high level after years of physiotherapy.

Then there is superhuman Kale Stephens who almost sliced his nose right off loading his sled into the back of his truck with a sketchy ramp.

Remember: it's not always learning new tricks when the worst can happen so keep on your toes at all times.

Possibly the most famous Canadian bruised ass: Greg Todds, literally torn a new one. (RIP)

How To Prevent?
You could always buy some "protective" gear but we all know that isn't going to happen. Except for a helmet, (which is totally recommended) you don't see many good riders putting on tailbone protectors or wrist guards. Save that for the boardercrossers.

Some helpful tips:
Don't be a fat ass. Keeping yourself in shape is a surefire way to prolong your existence on the hill.

Stretching/yoga. When rag dolling down landings, putting in pre-season and morning stretching/yoga sessions greatly increases your ability to connect heel-edge to your forehead without suffering long-term consequences.

Use your head. Icy conditions, testing a new jump, blind rollers...don't over amp and end your season doing dumb shit. Look before you leap, ride within the conditions, listen to your body, and all that. There is a certain time and place to push your limits. Knowing when to back off can mean the difference between a full season and playing video games all spring.

Don't ride above your abilities. Probably the most important of them all. If you are hucking backside rodeos or nollie back lips before learning backside 180's and boardslides, sooner or later the piper will come calling for you.   Follow these tips, use your head, and with a little luck maybe you will make it though an entire season injury-free.

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Related:
Tricks of the Trade: How To Have A Better Day Snowboarding