Imaging Utilization Patterns and Injury Characteristics Associated with Electric Standing Scooters in a Major Urban...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Emergency Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Electric standing scooters (e-scooters) are increasingly prevalent in US urban areas.
• E-scooter use is associated with a rise in injuries of varying severity, posing a public health challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze imaging use patterns for injuries sustained from e-scooter use.
• To describe the initial emergency department (ED) management of e-scooter-related injuries.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of electronic medical records for patients with e-scooter injuries.
• Data collected included demographics, presentation times, imaging studies, injury types, and procedures.
• Study period: July 2018 to April 2020 across affiliated EDs.

Main Results:

• Ninety-seven patients (mean age 27.6 years) were analyzed.
• Imaging identified injuries in 57% of patients; 40% of imaging studies were positive.
• Most common injuries were musculoskeletal (61%), followed by neurological (2%) and genitourinary (1%).
• Peak injury incidence occurred in August, with most presentations between 3 PM and 1 AM.

Conclusions:

• E-scooter users frequently sustain injuries to the radial head, nasal bone, and malleoli.
• Emergency physicians should maintain high suspicion for these specific injuries.
• While uncommon, visceral injuries can be severe and necessitate surgical intervention.