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Electric scooter injury and trauma in Edmonton: a multicentre prospective and retrospective observational study
Erin Bristow1, Jessica Marin2, Stephanie Couperthwaite2
1From the Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta (Bristow, Marin, Couperthwaite, Yang, Rowe); the Faculty of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta (Picard); the Alberta Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research Support Unit, Alberta Health Services (Yang); the School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta. (Rowe). ebristow@ualberta.ca.
Background:
The introduction of rentable electric scooters (e-scooters) has been associated with injury presentations to emergency departments (EDs). Our objective was to determine the incidence and severity of injuries from rentable e-scooters among adults presenting to EDs in a northern urban region.
Methods:
Adults presenting to all Edmonton EDs with injuries related to rentable e-scooters during 3 summers (2019-2021) were eligible for inclusion. We identified e-scooter charts using multiple sources: administrative data, trauma registry, and text-based triage searching. Two independent reviewers assessed each patient for study inclusion; disagreements were resolved by content experts. Trained researchers performed data extraction and descriptive statistical analysis.
Results:
We included 759 e-scooter-related injury presentations. The median age was 28 years, males and females were almost equally represented, 20% presented by ambulance, and 14% were triaged as urgent. Most patients had multiple injuries (62%), with fractures (32%) and head injuries (17%) being common. Helmet use was infrequent (2%) and concurrent substance use was prevalent (26%). Admission to hospital was uncommon (5.5%); however, 30% of patients presenting to an ED with an e-scooter injury required further follow-up, with 9% undergoing surgery within 30 days of their index visit.
Conclusion:
Injuries related to rentable e-scooters are increasingly common. Most injured patients have multiple injuries and require investigations, and a third require further management. These injuries represent substantial burdens to patients and the health care system in Canada. Injury prevention strategies should be considered to reduce injuries.
