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Cevik J, Read D, Putland M, Fazio T, Gumm K, Varma A, Santos R, Ramakrishnan A. The impact of electric scooters in Melbourne: data from a major trauma service. ANZ J Surg 2024; 94:572-579. [PMID: 38087881 DOI: 10.1111/ans.18814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The proliferation of electric scooters globally has been associated with an increase in related injuries and consequent economic burden. This study aims to assess the injury patterns and the economic impact associated with electric scooter use in Melbourne, Australia. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was conducted using hospital and registry data from January 2022 to January 2023. Data collected included demographic details, alcohol and helmet use, injury type and severity, operative treatment provided, and direct medical costs. The economic impact (in AUD) of the patient's emergency presentation and hospital admission was calculated. RESULTS During the study period, 256 electric scooter related injuries were recorded, comprising 247 riders and nine pedestrians. The majority of patients were males (69%) with a median age of 29.5 (15-78). Alcohol use was reported by 34% and helmet use by 33%. Injuries most commonly affected the upper limb (53%) and head (50%), with abrasions (75%) and fractures (48%) being the most common type of injury sustained. The total hospital cost was $1 911 062, and the median cost was $1321.66 per patient (IQR: $479.37-$5096.65). CONCLUSION Electric scooter usage, as observed through patient presentations to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, is associated with a considerable number of injuries, primarily among young males, and an ensuing substantial economic burden. The findings underscore the urgent need for improved safety measures to minimize electric scooter-related injuries and their clinical and economic repercussions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jevan Cevik
- Department of Plastic Surgery, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - David Read
- Trauma Service, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Surgery, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mark Putland
- Emergency Department, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Critical Care, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Timothy Fazio
- Health Intelligence Unit, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medicine, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kellie Gumm
- Trauma Service, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Amrita Varma
- Department of Plastic Surgery, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Roselyn Santos
- Trauma Service, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Anand Ramakrishnan
- Department of Plastic Surgery, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Surgery, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Piatkowski T, Moran J, Canty R, Wright CJC. 'I mean, I wouldn't say I was sober': Exploring the psychosocial impact of e-scooter injuries and aligning a collaborative public health response. Health Promot J Austr 2024. [PMID: 38305575 DOI: 10.1002/hpja.845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
ISSUE ADDRESSED E-scooters are sought after for their cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and efficiency in urban transportation. However, this popularity has been accompanied by a surge in injuries, prompting a deeper investigation into the factors influencing risk perceptions among e-scooter users. METHODS Using a qualitative approach, we conducted 19 interviews with those who attended an emergency department as a result of e-scooter injury. We aimed to understand the psychosocial effects of these incidents and employed thematic analysis to discern recurrent patterns in participants' experiences, focusing on alterations in daily life, community response, perception shifts, and avenues to enhance safety awareness. RESULTS The findings underscored significant disruptions to daily life due to injuries, demonstrating enduring impacts on lifestyle and wellbeing. Participants exhibited a perceptual shift, transitioning from perceiving e-scooters as enjoyable to viewing them as dangerous. Recommendations for enhancing safety awareness included accessible and clear safety education, pre-ride briefings, real-time safety guidance, temporal rental restrictions, and mandatory breathalysers before e-scooter use. CONCLUSIONS The study underscores the importance of considering not only the individual experiences and perceptions of e-scooter injuries but also the broader social context, including the night-time economy. Leveraging peer narratives and community engagement is vital to reshape risk perceptions and promote harm reduction messages. SO WHAT?: A comprehensive approach through proactive interventions and robust educational strategies is essential to foster responsible e-scooter usage and prioritise public safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Piatkowski
- School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Mount Gravatt, Queensland, Australia
- Griffith Centre for Mental Health, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - James Moran
- Emergency Department Royal Darwin Hospital, Casuarina, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Ruth Canty
- Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Cassandra J C Wright
- Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
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Raubenheimer K, Szeliga K, Manara JR, Fatovich DM, Plant JGA, Blakeney WG. Incidence, Management, and Hospital Costs of Orthopaedic Injuries of E-Scooter Riders in Western Australia. J Clin Med 2023; 12:6591. [PMID: 37892729 PMCID: PMC10607584 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12206591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of electric scooters (e-scooters) is increasing in Australia and internationally. The increasing availability of e-scooters has led to a rise in the number of injuries, with most patients sustaining orthopaedic injuries. This retrospective case series describes the incidence, management, and hospital costs of the orthopaedic injuries, which presented to the emergency department (ED) of the major trauma center in Western Australia. Data on demographics, ED dispatch destination, management, follow-up clinics, and hospital costs were collected between 2017 and 2022. Since June 2020, there have been 61 e-scooter crashes, which resulted in orthopaedic injuries, with more than half of the crashes occurring after the introduction of regional e-scooter sharing schemes. Thirty-two patients (52%) were admitted to the hospital. The most common orthopaedic fracture was to the upper limb (44%), followed by the lower limb (41%) and the axial skeleton (15%). Fourteen (23%) patients sustained more than one fracture. Twenty-two patients (36%) required operative management. The median number of outpatient clinic attendances per patient was 3 (interquartile range (IQR): 1-5), with inpatients requiring twice the number of clinics as compared to those discharged from the ED. The median cost per presentation was AU$5880.60 (IQR: AU$1283.10-AU$21,150.90) with inpatient costs exceeding those discharged from the ED. The range of the total costs was AU$413.80 to AU$100,239.80. The rise in the accessibility of e-scooters in Western Australia has led to a rise in ED presentations with orthopaedic injuries. Considering the recent implementation of e-scooter sharing schemes in metropolitan areas, ongoing surveillance of e-scooter injuries by clinicians and policy makers is warranted to inform harm minimization strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Raubenheimer
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, WA 6009, Australia; (K.R.)
| | - Katherine Szeliga
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, WA 6009, Australia; (K.R.)
| | - Jonathan R. Manara
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, WA 6009, Australia; (K.R.)
| | - Daniel M. Fatovich
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Royal Perth Hospital, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia;
- Centre for Clinical Research in Emergency Medicine, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - James G. A. Plant
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, WA 6009, Australia; (K.R.)
| | - William G. Blakeney
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, WA 6009, Australia; (K.R.)
- School of Surgery, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
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Mitra B, Heald E, Sri-Ganeshan M, MacSuibhne E, Edwards E, Cameron PA. Electric scooter-related trauma, alcohol and other drugs. Emerg Med Australas 2023; 35:353-356. [PMID: 36623931 DOI: 10.1111/1742-6723.14170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To report the frequency of electric scooter-related trauma and association with alcohol and other drug (AOD) use. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was conducted, including presentations from 1 January 2017 to 31 May 2022 to a metropolitan health service. RESULTS There were 272 cases included, with increasing frequency, of which 65 (24%) had AOD exposure. Most AOD-related trauma occurred at night, among males, without helmet use, had higher injury severity, requirement for surgical intervention and longer hospital length of stay. CONCLUSIONS Urgent preventive measures with a focus on reducing AOD exposure and promoting of helmet use is indicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biswadev Mitra
- Emergency and Trauma Centre, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Eleanor Heald
- Emergency and Trauma Centre, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Muhuntha Sri-Ganeshan
- Emergency and Trauma Centre, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Eanna MacSuibhne
- Emergency and Trauma Centre, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Elton Edwards
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Peter A Cameron
- Emergency and Trauma Centre, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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