The Impact of Helmet Use on Injury Severity and Clinical Outcomes in E-Bike Riders
Graysen Pitcher1, Monica Mendoza1, Andrew McCague2
1Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, USA.
Cureus
|July 2, 2025
Summary
Electric bicycle (e-bike) rider safety is crucial. Helmets improve outcomes like higher Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores and fewer ventilator days, though compliance remains low.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Trauma Surgery
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Electric bicycle (e-bike) popularity is rapidly increasing.
- Understanding e-bike rider safety and helmet efficacy is critical.
- E-bike related injuries necessitate analysis of injury patterns and outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze trends in e-bike related accidents.
- To assess the impact of helmet use on injury severity and clinical outcomes.
- To evaluate demographic factors associated with e-bike incidents.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of the National Trauma Data Standard (NTDS) from 2018-2023.
- Identified 5,474 e-bike injury cases using specific ICD-10 codes.
- Analyzed demographic variables, helmet use, Injury Severity Score (ISS), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), and clinical outcomes using statistical tests.
Main Results:
- Helmet use was linked to significantly fewer ventilator days (p=0.0148) and higher GCS scores (p=0.0141).
- No significant differences in ISS or hospital length of stay were observed between helmeted and non-helmeted groups.
- The majority of accidents (approx. 50%) involved traffic collisions, with 25% involving cars, pick-up trucks, or vans.
Conclusions:
- Helmet use in e-bike incidents is associated with improved clinical outcomes, specifically higher GCS and reduced ventilator days.
- Findings support the established benefits of helmet use for e-bike riders.
- Low helmet compliance among e-bike riders nationwide highlights a need for further research and public health initiatives.
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