The incidence and severity of pediatric injuries sustained by electric bikes and powered scooters - the experience of an urban, tertiary pediatric emergency department

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the incidence and severity of electrical bicycle- (E-bike) and power scooter (P-scooter)-related injuries and their secular trends among pediatric patients presenting to a pediatric emergency department (ED). Methods: This retrospective cohort study of patients aged <18 years who sustained E-bike and P-scooter injuries was performed between 2018 and 2023. We explored trends of severe trauma cases, ED visits, hospitalizations, and surgical interventions. Severity of trauma was rated by either an injury severity score (ISS) >15 or the patient’s need for acute care as defined by intensive care unit (ICU) admission, direct disposition to the operating room, acute interventions performed in the trauma room, and in-hospital death. Results: Of the 1,467 pediatric patients who presented to our pediatric ED following P-scooter and E-bike injuries, 217 (14.8%) were hospitalized, with a median age 14.0 years (interquartile range 10.5–16.0), and male predominance (69.1%). The number of ED visits increased 3.5-fold by study closure, with a parallel increase in hospitalizations, surgical interventions, and severe trauma cases. The relative percentages of severe trauma cases were not significantly different over time, but the mean length of stay in the ICU and the mean number of ventilation days increased significantly during the late period (p=0.02, and p=0.04, respectively). Among hospitalized patients, 3 patients (1.4%) died and 8 (3.7%) required rehabilitation care. Conclusions: The incidence and severity of E-bike and P-scooter injuries and fatalities continue to increase within the pediatric population. Current personal and road safety regulations are failing to alleviate and prevent these injuries and require urgent revision and enforcement.