Electric scooters: convenient transport or ED headache?

E-scooter-related dental injuries: a two-year retrospective review

Introduction In June 2020, the United Kingdom (UK) published guidance on electric scooter (e-scooter) use to ease transport congestion and reduce pollution. This study aims to examine dental injuries sustained during the two years following initiation of the trial.Methods The research was conducted at a UK, Level 1, supra-regional major trauma centre. All eligible patient records were analysed to identify e-scooter-related dental injuries to the following regions: teeth, periodontium, alveolus, palate, tongue, floor of mouth, frenum, buccal mucosa and lips. To assess significant associations between recorded variables, a Pearson's chi-square test was utilised.Results Of the 32 patients who experienced a total of 71 dental injuries, 46.5% (n = 33) affected teeth, predominantly upper central incisors (n = 17). 'Lacerations' (n = 32) and 'lips' (n = 30) were the most common type and site of soft tissue injuries, respectively. Unprovoked falls by riders accounted for 53.1% (n = 17) of the injuries. There was an overall increase in e-scooter-related dental injuries throughout the two-year period.Conclusion E-scooters have introduced an additional source of dental trauma. It is imperative health care professionals can also identify signs of head and non-dental injuries when managing such patients. Further studies are warranted allowing for better informed and optimised dental public health interventions.

Incidence and distribution of injuries associated with e-scooter use: a radiological perspective

OBJECTIVES

To investigate electric scooter (e-scooter)-associated radiological injury incidence and distribution of injuries.

METHODS

Retrospective cross-sectional study of radiological examinations related to e-scooter injuries at a major trauma centre in a small university city. The hospital radiology information system was searched for terms related to e-scooters between January 1, 2015, and October 31, 2022. E-scooter use was confirmed by review of the patients' electronic medical records. Specific injuries were divided based on site of injury using the Injury Severity Scale categorized groups.

RESULTS

A total of 568 radiological studies related to e-scooter injuries were identified on 340 distinct patients (56% male, with an average age of 28 years). Peak incidence of e-scooter-related injuries was seen in the summer months, after a local scooter sharing system was introduced in October 2020. A total of 149 patients had radiologically diagnosed injuries, with extremity injuries being most frequent (80%). Facial (8%), head/neck (8%), and thorax/abdomen (4%) were less common. Radial head fractures were the most common injury (n = 27). Thirteen patients had multiple sites of injury, four of which had both upper limb and facial bone fractures described.

CONCLUSIONS

We report a significant increase in radiological investigations and injuries in the context of e-scooter injuries, particularly since the introduction of an e-scooter sharing scheme. This study informs radiologists on common locations of injuries when reporting studies of patients that have had e-scooter-related injuries.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

This is the first UK-based study providing a comprehensive radiological perspective of the impact of e-scooter use and associated distribution of injuries, adding important data for many cities that are currently undertaking review of their e-scooter sharing schemes.

Maxillofacial trauma caused by e-scooters: a retrospective review prior to the extension of the UK scheme

The nationwide extension of the electric scooter (e-scooter) scheme, which began in 2020, aimed to alleviate public transport congestion, to reduce pollution and peak-time road traffic. This retrospective study evaluates the range of e-scooter-related maxillofacial trauma before the recent scheme extension and compares the findings with existing literature on this topic. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, United Kingdom (UK) operates as a Level 1 Regional Major Trauma Centre and serves a population of four million. All patient records between September 2021 to September 2022 were analysed to establish the types of e-scooter-related maxillofacial trauma sustained. A Pearson's chi-squared test was used to assess for significant associations between variables recorded. Falls accounted for the majority of injuries (44.3%), and soft tissue lacerations were the most common maxillofacial injury (38%). Statistically significant results were measured in the following variables: gender and intoxication status (p = 0.007), helmet status and injuries sustained in maxillofacial and non-maxillofacial regions (p = 0.043), mechanism of injury and injuries sustained in both the maxillofacial and non-maxillofacial regions (p = 0.045). E-scooters are an emerging concern within the UK. Further studies across the UK are required to assess the frequency of e-scooter-related injuries. Such data may prove useful in determining the government's decision on e-scooter use on UK roads.

Trauma Characteristics Associated with E-Scooter Accidents in Switzerland-A Case Series Study

E-scooters have gained popularity worldwide in the last few years. Due to the increase in users, more accidents related to e-scooters can be observed. The present study aimed to analyse epidemiological data, characteristics, and severity of injuries in patients admitted to a Level I trauma centre in Switzerland (Inselspital Bern, University Hospital Bern) after accidents associated with e-scooters. This retrospective case series evaluated 23 patients who presented to the University Hospital of Bern between 1 of May 2019 and 31 of October 2021 after an e-scooter accident. Data were collected on patient demographics, time and cause of the accident, speed, alcohol consumption, helmet use, type and localisation of injury, number of injuries per patient, and outcome. Men were most frequently affected (61.9%). The mean age was 35.8 (STD 14.8) years. Slightly more than half (52.2%) of all accidents were self-inflicted. Most accidents were reported during the night (7 p.m. to 7 a.m., 60.9%) and in summer (43.5%). Alcohol consumption was reported in 43.5% of cases, with a mean blood alcohol level of 1.4 g/l. Most injuries were observed in the face (25.3%) and head/neck area (20.25%). Skin abrasions (56.5%) and traumatic brain injury (43.5%) were the most common types of traumata in terms of total number of patients. Only in one case it was reported that a protective helmet had been worn. Five patients required hospitalisation and four patients underwent surgery. Three patients underwent emergency orthopaedic surgery, and one patient underwent emergency neurosurgery. E-scooter accidents result in a significant number of facial and head/neck injuries. E-scooter riders would potentially benefit from a helmet to protect them in the event of an accident. Additionally, the results of this study indicate that a significant number of e-scooter accidents in Switzerland occurred under the influence of alcohol. Prevention campaigns to raise awareness of the risks of driving e-scooters under the influence of alcohol could help prevent future accidents.

Oral and maxillofacial injuries associated with e-scooter use at Broomfield Hospital: a cohort study of 24 months of data since e-scooter legalisation in the UK

Introduction Rental electronic scooters (e-scooters) were legalised in July 2020 in the UK for use on public roads. This has led to higher numbers of emergency department (ED) attendances for head and neck injuries managed by the oral and maxillofacial surgical (OMFS) department.Aim The aim of this research is to assess the increase in e-scooter injuries requiring OMFS input and analyse factors and management associated.Method Data were collected over a 24-month period. A total of 212 e-scooter-related ED presentations were recorded, with 34 patients requiring input from the OMFS department. For the patients referred to OMFS, numerical and categorical factors used independent T-tests and one-way Analysis of Variance tests, respectively, to determine statistical significance at the 5% confidence level (p <0.05).Results The mean age was 32.8 years (SD = 15.9) in a predominately male cohort (79.4%). Alcohol intoxication was observed in 55.8% of accidents. Injuries were most common on Saturdays (41.2%). Soft tissue injuries were present in 64.7% of patients, bony injuries in 38.2% of patients and dental injuries in 11.8% of patients. Imaging was required for 76.5% of patients. In total, 44% of patients required surgical treatment, 5.9% required major surgery and 38.2% required minor surgery.Conclusion This research supports the literature suggesting significant growth in e-scooter-related injuries and their associated burden of conditions managed by the OMFS department.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race: A Comparative Analysis of Standing Electric Scooters’ European Regulations Integrated with the Aspect of Forensic Traumatology

Fuel-driven cars are widely considered unsustainable and contrary to the new paradigm of smart growth planning. The need to reform transport behavior, policies, and infrastructure is among the priorities in urban policies around the world. Electric vehicles are an emerging technology that could advance sustainability programs. In the past year, there has been a rapid increase in the diffusion of electric scooters in several European cities, but various states have been unprepared for the rapid spread of green micro-mobility from a regulatory point of view. In addition, in parallel with the spread, there have been numerous road collisions involving standing electric scooters. The aim of this study was to obtain a detailed view of this phenomenon. We focused on the current legislation on electric micro-mobility at the European level to study and summarize the different attitudes adopted by various states whose regulations are present on the web. (It was not possible to evaluate the regulations of all European countries because they are not all available on online platforms.) The elements assessed in the various regulation were age limits, speed limits, compulsory use of helmets, administrative penalties, and the obligation to insure the new e-vehicle (standing scooter). In this study, we analyze the state of the art in electric micro-mobility, highlight the current situation’s limits, and propose new strategies to adequately integrate this new smart vehicle into the urban transport network.

Electric scooters: a quick way to get to the emergency department?

Introduction Electric scooters (e-scooters) are rife but are yet to be legalised in the UK. The aim of this paper was to investigate whether there had been an increase in the number of e-scooter injuries referred to the oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) service at our unit. We present here what is, to our knowledge, the largest dataset regarding e-scooter-related injuries in the UK.Method A double cohort study in which details of patients sustaining e-scooter-related injuries that were referred to the OMFS department were collected, prospectively, for a 16-week period in 2020 (investigation period). This was compared with data collected, retrospectively, from the emergency department (ED) referral database for the same date range in 2019 (control period).Results In the investigation period, 12/649 referrals to OMFS from the ED were for e-scooter-related injuries. There were eight male patients and four female patients with a mean age of 35 years (interquartile range 24-48). Of these, only one patient was wearing a helmet and 8/12 had consumed alcohol. Head and neck injuries sustained included avulsed teeth, mandibular and midface fractures, skull fractures, facial lacerations and cervical spine injuries. One patient died as a result of their injuries. During the control period, 2/997 ED referrals to OMFS were for e-scooter-related injuries (12/649 versus 2/997; Fisher's exact test p <0.001).Conclusion There was a significant rise in e-scooter-related injuries seen at our major trauma unit compared with 2019. We recommend that e-scooters are subject to at least the same requirements in safety equipment and sobriety as bicycles and that their top speed is limited to 12.5 mph. We hope that these measures will allow the benefits of this technology to be enjoyed while reducing associated morbidity and mortality.