Dental and maxillofacial injuries associated with electric‐powered bikes and scooters in Israel: A report for 2014‐2019

Abstract

Background/Aims Electric‐Powered Bikes and powered scooters present a new method of transportation and are becoming commonly used worldwide. However, the reports on traumatic dental injuries related to their use are scarce. The aim of this study was to report the frequency and severity of dental and maxillofacial injuries associated with electric‐powered bikes and scooters in Israel between the years 2014 and 2019. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study based on data from the Israeli National Trauma Registry (INTR). The INTR provides comprehensive data on hospitalized patients from all six Level I trauma centers (TC) and 15 of the 20 Level II TCs in Israel. All injured patients who were hospitalized due to a traffic collision between 2014 and 2019 were identified. The data for those hospitalized due to an e‐bike or motorized scooter accident were extracted as well as for pedestrians who were injured as a result of a crash with these vehicles. Results A total of 3,686 hospital admissions were related to electric‐powered bikes and scooters. Of those, 378 (10.3%) were oral and maxillofacial injuries. Most of the oral and maxillofacial injuries were attributed to powered bikes (321 out of 378; 84.92%) and the rest to powered scooters. There was a constant increase in general as well as the oral and maxillofacial injuries during the study years. Almost 20% of the cases involved injuries to the teeth. Overall, 291 pedestrians were reported to be injured due to electric‐powered bikes and scooters; 29 (9.97%) of them, suffered from oral and maxillofacial injuries. Most of those were children aged 0‐15 years (41.38%) and elders older than 60 years (37.39%). Conclusions Trauma related to electric‐powered bikes and scooters is an increasing concern. Dental professionals should be actively involved in educational and legislative efforts focusing on the prevention of e‐bike and scooter‐related injuries, in general, and specifically maxillofacial injuries.

The impact of helmet use on oral and maxillofacial injuries associated with electric-powered bikes or powered scooter: a retrospective cross-sectional study

“…The rising popularity of E-bikes and P-scooters has resulted in a proportional increase in related injuries [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]. Although the prevalence of oral and maxillofacial injuries associated with these motorized vehicles appears to be rising [ 1 , 2 ], the rate in our study (62 of 1417 patients, 4.4%) was nevertheless considerably lower than the 10.3% reported in the recent, similarly designed, study of Lin et al [ 1 ]. The difference may be attributable to the low rates of alcohol use (6.5%) and drug use (0%) by our patients, both known risk factors in head and maxillofacial injuries [ 1 , 2 , 5 ].…”

“…E-bikes and P-scooters riders are at high injury risk for high-speed collision with motorized vehicles in comparison to pedestrians and conventional bicyclists. Thus, the formers more likely to be involved in high energy accidents, suffering more severe injuries, and requiring extensive and prolonged medical treatment [ 1 ]. In 2000–2017, 133,872 injuries associated with E-bikes and P-scooters were reported to the United States National Electronic Injury Surveillance System [ 2 ], with E- bikes more likely than P-scooters to be associated with internal injuries and hospitalization [ 2 ].…”

“…In 2000–2017, 133,872 injuries associated with E-bikes and P-scooters were reported to the United States National Electronic Injury Surveillance System [ 2 ], with E- bikes more likely than P-scooters to be associated with internal injuries and hospitalization [ 2 ]. A study of vehicular trauma in 2014–2019 found that E-bikes and P-scooters were responsible for 378 of the 3686 hospital admissions for dental and maxillofacial injuries (10.3%) [ 1 ]. The authors suggested that helmets may have a protective benefit against oral injuries [ 1 , 2 ], but the data are still sparse.…”

“…A study of vehicular trauma in 2014–2019 found that E-bikes and P-scooters were responsible for 378 of the 3686 hospital admissions for dental and maxillofacial injuries (10.3%) [ 1 ]. The authors suggested that helmets may have a protective benefit against oral injuries [ 1 , 2 ], but the data are still sparse. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of helmet use on the number and severity of oral and maxillofacial injuries caused by E-bikes and P-scooters over a 6-year period in Israel.…”

Prescribing active transport as a planetary health intervention – benefits, challenges and recommendations

“…Despite the many benefits of active transport, there may be a risk of injury, particularly for those riding scooters or bicycles [63][64][65][66]. Interestingly, when using e-scooters the majority of injuries were due to falling from the scooter (84.7-91.7%), with a low percentage of injuries related to motor vehicle accidents (2.8-9.7%) [63,66].…”