Electric Scooter-Related Injuries: A New Epidemic in Orthopedics

Abstract

Background: The use of electric scooters has increased considerably as they are an accessible means of transportation. The number of injuries from falls and collisions has risen significantly. Therefore, the aim of the study was to describe demographics injury patterns of electric scooter accidents produced over one year. Methods: A prospective observational study of electric scooter- related injuries presented in the emergency room from May 2019 until May 2020. The inclusion criteria was based on the direct cause of injury produced while an electric scooter was in use. Demographic data, the use of a helmet or the lack thereof, accident mechanism, injury time, type of injury produced, and the treatment applied were collected. Results: Over the study period, 397 patients were identified with a total of 422 injuries. The mean age was 30.8 years, with 12.6% of patients being minors. The patients mainly presented in evening hours and in summertime at the emergency department. Of the total injuries seen, 46.9% were fractures. Some 25% of the total cases required surgery. Only 19% of the riders wore a helmet at the time of the accident. Most of the fractures were to the upper limbs (62.6%). There was a greater incidence of radius fractures. Conclusion: Injuries incurred while using electric scooters are an emerging phenomenon, despite existing regulations. In this study, most injuries occurred in young men and were due to falls from the vehicle. Nearly half of those injuries were fractures to the upper limbs. Surprisingly, 50% of the fractures required surgery.

Characteristics and comparison between e-scooters and bicycle-related trauma: a multicentre cross-sectional analysis of data from a road collision registry

“…Both e-scooter and bicycle riders were mostly male young adults and the proportion of older adults (≥ 65 years) among e-scooter riders was ten times lower than bicycle riders. This is consistent with that reported elsewhere [ 13 , 18 , 19 ] and reflects both the urban implementation of e-scooter sharing companies and their target customers’ profile. More interestingly, we found that a moving car was less frequently involved in e-scooter crashes compared to cycling incidents, which has also been reported by Cicchino et al .…”

Types of injuries caused by isolated electric scooter accidents

“…There were six cases of extremity fractures in our study, and three (50%) were operated on. This was consistent with an article by Coelho et al [18] reporting the need for surgery in more than 50% of extremity fractures in e-scooter accidents.…”

Traumatologia Associada ao Uso das Trotinetas Elétricas

“…A idade média situa-se entre os 30.8-35.4 anos, com 11% a apresentar idades inferiores a 16 anos e mais de 50% a situar-se na faixa etária dos 30 aos 60 anos. 1 Verifica-se um predomínio de ocorrência de acidentes no sexo masculino (50-76%) e nos meses de Verão (figura 3) entre as 15h e as 23h dos dias úteis, que apresenta uma variação significativa para o período da noite ao fim de semana, em provável relação com o divertimento noturno.…”

“…A educação dos condutores representa outro foco potencial de atuação, uma vez que 45% das vítimas não tem carta de condução e não existe a obrigatoriedade de qualquer formação ou treino para a condução das trotinetas elétricas. 1…”

“…Em Portugal, a primeira empresa de aluguer iniciou atividade em Lisboa em outubro de 2018, sensivelmente um ano após a sua introdução em Espanha (Madrid e Barcelona) e rapidamente se propagou às restantes cidades. 1 Este velocípede (figura 1), mais robusto e pesado que a trotineta clássica, 12kg a 17Kg, tem uma condução intuitiva e sem esforço, que o torna atraente a todas as faixas etárias. As trotinetas elétricas são habitualmente usadas através de uma aplicação de telemóvel, a partir da qual são desbloqueadas, permitindo o seu uso a um preço estipulado por minuto.…”