Electric bicycles-related orthopedic injury spectrum: retrospective analysis of 1,735 cases (2020-2025)

The rapid adoption of electric bicycles (EB) has led to a significant increase in related injuries, posing a growing public health challenge. In Anhui Province, China, EB-related orthopedic injuries represent a major component of traffic trauma burden. However, systematic data on injury patterns, anatomical distribution, and demographic variations remain limited, hindering optimized clinical management. This study aims to characterize the clinical spectrum of orthopedic injuries associated with EB that necessitate surgical management.

This single-center retrospective cohort study analyzed data from the Hospital Information System (HIS) for patients with EB-related orthopedic injuries between January, 2020, and December, 2025. Among 3,412 vehicle-related injuries, 1,735 cases met inclusion criteria. Injury types were classified into six categories (e.g., fractures, dislocations), and anatomical sites were categorized into 16 regions. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to identify factors associated with severe injuries.

The study included 1,735 patients (59.20% male; mean age 48.65 ± 15.73 years), with a bimodal age distribution peaking in the 31-44 and 45-59 groups. Fractures predominated (85.01% of cases), followed by combined injuries such as open fractures with soft tissue damage (4.67%). The most frequent anatomical sites were the clavicle, tibiofibula, and hand/foot. Female patients were significantly older than males (95% CI: 3.44, 6.38; p < 0.001), and young males had higher injury rates.

EB-related orthopedic injuries predominantly affect middle-aged and elderly populations (1,735 patients; mean age 48.65 ± 15.73 years, bimodal peaks at 34.65 ± 9.41 years and 57.28 ± 6.72 years), with fractures accounting for 85.01% of cases and combined trauma (e.g., open fractures with soft tissue damage) representing 4.67%. The clavicle, tibiofibula, and hand/foot are the most commonly injured sites. These findings provide foundational insights for orthopedic clinical practice pertaining to EB-related injuries, suggesting that age-stratified triage protocols and prioritized evaluation of high-risk anatomical sites (clavicle, lower limbs) warrant further investigation to optimize resource allocation and patient outcomes in clinical settings. However, this study has several limitations, including its single-center retrospective design, absence of severity validation scores, and insufficient data on protective measures/devices/follow-up and so on. Therefore, prospective multicenter studies are warranted to validate and optimize clinical practice.