Electric Scooters: A Modern Method of Trauma

Electric scooters (e-scooters) have become a popular means of short-distance transportation for major metropolitan areas in several countries over the past decade. Their eco-friendliness, affordability, and ease of operation are selling points to people of all ages, particularly youth and young adults. Societal normalization has unfortunately overshadowed the risks entailed with their operation including severe injury and death. Alcohol, lack of protective equipment, and inadequate infrastructure appear to be common preventable risk factors. Emergency clinicians and trauma teams experience the aftermath of e-scooter injuries, which promise a rising trajectory. Common injury patterns have been identified by researchers around the world, most notably orthopedic, head, and maxillofacial in nature. Becoming familiar with these injury patterns and risk factors contributing to e-scooter accidents can be advantageous to the emergency physician's preparedness and public officials' approach to injury prevention.