Introduction Since the introduction of a shared e‐scooter service to Auckland in October there have been multiple media reports of associated injuries, but no quantitation of the number or severity of these injuries, or the impact on hospital emergency department services in Auckland. Methods We performed a retrospective chart review on all patients referred to Auckland hospital ED radiology with the indication containing ‘e‐scooter’ between 15 August 2018 and 15 December 2018. All requests were screened to ensure that the injury was caused by an e‐scooter. Recorded data included patient demographics, type of imaging utilised, injury type, and whether admission or surgery was required. Results Sixty‐four patients met the inclusion criteria, only one of these was prior to introduction of shared e‐scooters on 15 October 2018. Of these, there were 27 limb fractures, 3 dislocations, a fractured spine, 12 patients with concussion, 1 extra‐dural bleed, 9 facial/skull fractures and multiple soft tissue injuries. Almost 40% of the patients required admission to a specialty service following imaging, and 25.4% required surgery. A total of 221 plain films and 47 CT scans were performed for e‐scooter injuries in the 2‐month period after their introduction. Conclusion Introduction of shared e‐scooters has resulted in a large number of serious related injuries that have required urgent radiology imaging. Many of these patients required further specialist consultation or surgery, and place an increased burden on overstretched emergency department services.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.