Injury patterns and epidemiology of automatic door-related trauma: A retrospective analysis

Automatic doors are commonly found in public spaces. Especially in residential and commercial areas. They offer easy accessibility and significant operating convenience. However, they may cause injury risks. These doors could be a potential hazard to an individual given their potential to exert thousands of newtons of energy. Despite their widespread use, automated door injury related visits to the emergency departments have not been described.

A retrospective observational study was conducted with the use of the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) to identify Emergency Department visits related to automated doors between 2015 and 2024. Weighted national estimates were analyzed. Demographic characteristics, injury patterns, anatomic sites, disposition, and trends were analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with injury severity.

An estimated 38,720 ED weighted visits to the ED were recorded over the 10-year period (2015-2024). Among these visits, 11 % were pediatric, 52.4 % were adult, and 36.5 % were older adult. Mean age for each group was 6.97 (SD ± 0.57), 44.37 (SD ±0.75), and 78.21 (SD ± 0.61), respectively. Upper extremity injuries predominated in pediatric (56.8 %) and adult (44.7 %) groups, while older adults more frequently sustained head/neck (39.1 %) and trunk/internal injuries (23.8 %). Most patients were discharged, but admission rates were highest in older adults (18.4 %), compared to adults (4.2 %) and pediatrics. On regression analysis, pediatric patients had lower odds of severe injury (OR 0.03, 95 % CI 0.003-0.332) while older adults had higher odds (OR 3.18, 95 % CI 1.33-7.56) compared to adults. Severe injuries were most likely in 2020, and 2024. Injury prevalence peaked in 2015, declined in subsequent years, and rebounded in 2023-2024.

Automatic door injuries represent a significant source of trauma across all age groups. Adults accounted for the majority of cases, but older adults faced highest risk of severe outcomes. Findings highlight the need for enhanced safety mechanisms, targeted prevention strategies, and regulatory oversight to reduce burden on the Emergency Departments.