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Sharpe J, Bakaes Y, Gauthier C, Bidwell R, Hurley DM, Murr K. The role of public policy in reducing moped and scooter injuries in South Carolina. Injury 2024; 55:111411. [PMID: 38359714 DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2024.111411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Mopeds and electric scooters have grown in popularity in recent years. A South Carolina (SC) law was passed on November 19, 2018, aimed to regulate mopeds and scooters. This study aims to evaluate whether this SC law was associated with a decrease in the moped injury rate in a Level 1 Trauma Center. METHODS A retrospective review of trauma registry data was used to identify a cohort of patients 14 years and older who came to a Level 1 trauma center for a moped/scooter accident between January 2014 - December 2022. The proportion of moped injuries before and after the passing of the law was calculated. The chi-square test and Wilcoxon Rank Sum test were used to compare differences in proportions for categorical factors and continuous factors, respectively. RESULTS A total of 350 moped injury cases were identified. There was a significant decrease in the moped injury rate after the passing of the 2018 SC law (0.9 % vs 1.8 %, p<0.001). Additionally, those treated post-law implementation were significantly older (47.4 vs 43.2 years, p = 0.013) and more likely to be male (95.5 % vs 87.9 %, p = 0.025) than those treated pre-law. Patients treated post-law were significantly more likely to be uninsured (45.1 % vs 42.7 %, p = 0.009) and less likely to have commercial (16.2 % vs 20.1 %, p = 0.009), or government (29.7 % vs 35.6 %, p = 0.009) health insurance compared to those treated pre-law. There was no significant difference between the two groups in Glascow Coma Scale, Injury severity score, Trauma Injury Severity Score, or rate of fatalities. CONCLUSION After the implementation of a SC law, we found that the local proportion of injuries due to moped and scooter accidents was significantly lower than pre-law proportions. These findings suggest that public policies aimed at increasing regulations for mopeds may decrease the rate of injury, but not severity, from moped use.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Sharpe
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Prisma Health - Midlands, 2 Medical Park Rd Suite 404, Columbia, SC 29203, United States
| | - Yianni Bakaes
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Prisma Health - Midlands, 2 Medical Park Rd Suite 404, Columbia, SC 29203, United States
| | - Chase Gauthier
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Prisma Health - Midlands, 2 Medical Park Rd Suite 404, Columbia, SC 29203, United States.
| | - Richard Bidwell
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Prisma Health - Midlands, 2 Medical Park Rd Suite 404, Columbia, SC 29203, United States
| | - Deborah M Hurley
- Data Support Core, Prisma Health - Midlands, 9 Medical Park Rd, Suite 400, Columbia, SC 29203, United States
| | - Kevin Murr
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Prisma Health - Midlands, 2 Medical Park Rd Suite 404, Columbia, SC 29203, United States
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Choi S, Lee JJ, Lee E, Lee MH. The Importance of Headgear During Scooter Riding in the Pediatric Population, and Suggesting Recommendations. Korean J Neurotrauma 2023; 19:242-248. [PMID: 37431378 PMCID: PMC10329883 DOI: 10.13004/kjnt.2023.19.e18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The authors analyzed the characteristics of pediatric patients who visited trauma center due to injuries sustained while riding scooters and suggested recommendations on our concerns about pediatric scooter use. Methods From January 2019 to June 2022, we collected data for those who visited due to accidents while riding scooters. And, the analysis was conducted by dividing it into pediatric (younger than 12 years) and adult (older than 20 years) patients. Results There were 264 children (<12 years), and 217 adults (>19 years). We observed 170 head injuries (64.4%), in the pediatric population and 130 head injuries (60.0%) in the adult population. There were no significant differences between pediatric and adult patients for all three injured regions. Among pediatric patients, only 1 reported the use of protective headgear (0.4%). The patient suffered a cerebral concussion. However, 9 of the pediatric patients who did not wear protective headgear suffered major trauma. Among 217 adult patients, 8 (3.7%) had used headgear. 6 suffered major trauma and 2 suffered minor trauma. Of the patients who did not wear protective headgear, 41 suffered major trauma and 81 suffered minor trauma. Since there was only one patient in the pediatric group who wore headgear, no statistical inferences could be calculated. Conclusion In the pediatric population, the head injury rate is as high as in adults. We were unable to statistically support the significance of headgear in the current study. However, in our general experience, the importance of headgear is overlooked in the pediatric population compared to adults. It is necessary to encourage the use of headgear actively publicly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunghoon Choi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital, School of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jung Jae Lee
- Department of Neurosurgery, Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital, School of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Eunhye Lee
- Department of Neurosurgery, Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital, School of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Min Ho Lee
- Department of Neurosurgery, Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital, School of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
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Choi JH, Oh SS, Kim KS, Hwang JH, Lee SY. Electric Scooter-Related Trauma in Korea. J Korean Med Sci 2022; 37:e181. [PMID: 35668688 PMCID: PMC9171354 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2022.37.e181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The number of users of electric scooters, which provide swift and convenient mobility options, has increased sharply over recent years as their distribution as a shared service has expanded. Although the number of accidents and related damage has increased accordingly, limited research has analyzed data on the new types of accidents arising from electric scooters. This study aimed to analyze data on trauma characteristics due to accidents that occurred during electric scooter use. METHODS A retrospective chart review was conducted for patients who visited the regional trauma center of our institute due to electric scooter accidents from April 2018 to October 2021. Information was extracted on helmet-wearing status, sex, age, drinking status, accident timeframe, accident mechanism, electric scooter proficiency (period of use), injury severity, severe trauma, lethality, admission to the intensive care unit, surgery under general anesthesia, and the trauma region. RESULTS Among the 108 patients involved in electric scooter accidents, 92 patients were not wearing a helmet. Eighty-nine patients (85.2%) were male. The average age of the patients without a helmet was 31.3 years, while that of patients with a helmet was 34.1 years. The most frequent causes of accidents were lack of electric scooter operation experience and falling off the scooter due to obstacles (90 cases). Whether surgery was performed under general anesthesia was not associated with helmet use or non-use, although all patients who underwent facial fracture surgery were not wearing a helmet. CONCLUSION The craniofacial region was most frequently affected in electric scooter accidents and wearing a helmet was the best way to prevent craniofacial trauma. Although helmet-wearing is mandatory, the majority of treated patients were not wearing a helmet at the time of injury. Thus, there is an urgent need to introduce a helmet rental system, as well as strict legal requirements, to improve this situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Ho Choi
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chonnam National University Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Sang Seong Oh
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chonnam National University Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Kwang Seog Kim
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chonnam National University Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
| | - Jae Ha Hwang
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chonnam National University Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Sam Yong Lee
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chonnam National University Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea
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Shichman I, Shaked O, Factor S, Weiss-Meilik A, Khoury A. Emergency department electric scooter injuries after the introduction of shared e-scooter services: A retrospective review of 3,331 cases. World J Emerg Med 2022; 13:5-10. [PMID: 35003408 DOI: 10.5847/wjem.j.1920-8642.2022.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To determine the frequency, characteristics, and use of resources related to electric scooter (e-scooter) injuries in the emergency department (ED) of a major metropolitan area hospital. METHODS We performed a retrospective review of all ED presentations related to e-scooter injuries at a level I trauma center between May 2017 and February 2020. We identified ED presentation data, injury-related data, patients' clinical course after evaluation, injury diagnosis, surgical procedures, and ED readmissions. RESULTS A total of 3,331 patients with e-scooter injuries presented to the ED over a 34-month period. There was a 6-fold increase in e-scooter-related injuries presenting to the ED, from an average of 26.9 injuries per month before the introduction of shared e-scooter services in August 2018 to an average of 152.6 injuries per month after its introduction. The average injury rate during weekdays was 3.27 per day, with the majority of injuries occurring in the afternoon. The most common mechanism of injury was rider fall (79.1%). There were a total of 2,637 orthopedic injuries, of which 599 (22.7%) were fractures. A total of 296 (8.9%) patients were hospitalized following the initial ED admission, and 462 surgeries were performed within 7 days of ED arrival. CONCLUSIONS The introduction of the shared e-scooter services is associated with a dramatic increase in e-scooter injuries presenting to the ED. E-scooter use carries considerably underestimated injury risks of high-energy trauma and misunderstood mechanisms of injuries. These injuries challenge the healthcare system, with a major impact on both EDs and surgical departments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ittai Shichman
- Division of Orthopedics, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Affiliated to the Sackler Faculty of Medicine Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 64239, Israel
| | - Or Shaked
- Division of Orthopedics, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Affiliated to the Sackler Faculty of Medicine Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 64239, Israel
| | - Shai Factor
- Division of Orthopedics, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Affiliated to the Sackler Faculty of Medicine Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 64239, Israel
| | - Ahuva Weiss-Meilik
- Head of I-Medata AI Center, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Affiliated to the Sackler Faculty of Medicine Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 64239, Israel
| | - Amal Khoury
- Division of Orthopedics, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Affiliated to the Sackler Faculty of Medicine Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 64239, Israel
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Cruz ND, Morgan C, Morgan RV, Tanna S, Talwar C, Dattani R, Sarraf KM, Gibbons C. Injury patterns of e- scooter-related orthopaedic trauma in central London: a multicentre study. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2021; 104:187-194. [PMID: 34825575 DOI: 10.1308/rcsann.2021.0151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Electric scooters (E-Scooters) are being increasingly used in urban areas as a new means of transport. E-scooter sharing schemes have recently been piloted in the United Kingdom; however, there are no published data on orthopaedic injuries and user behaviour patterns in the UK. We aim to identify the patterns and severity of orthopaedic injuries related to e-scooter use. METHODS We performed a retrospective review of all orthopaedic referrals relating to e-scooter use from 1 March to 30 November 2020 at three hospitals, including one major trauma centre in central London. Data including patient demographics, mechanism of injury, diagnosis and treatment were collected. RESULTS One hundred and five orthopaedic injuries were identified in 83 patients. The median age was 32 years and 83% were male. Seventy-nine (95.2%) patients were riders, four were pedestrians. All e-scooters were privately owned. There were 93 fractures (88.6% of total injuries noted) including 12 (12.9%) open. Fifty-two (56.0%) were upper limb fractures, 39 (41.9%) lower limb and 2 (2.1%) spinal and rib fractures. Twenty-five patients (30.1%) required an operation and 29 (34.9%) required hospital admission. Helmet use was present in 34.1%. The most common place of injury was the road (65.1%) followed by pavement (32.9%). CONCLUSION E-scooters can cause serious injury, most commonly in males. There was an equal distribution of upper and lower limb injuries, with many associated with high-energy trauma requiring operative intervention. Helmet use was seen in one third of riders. As e-scooter use continues to increase across the UK, additional steps should be taken to ensure the safety of the riders and public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Njm Dela Cruz
- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - C Morgan
- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - R V Morgan
- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - S Tanna
- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - C Talwar
- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - R Dattani
- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - K M Sarraf
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, UK
| | - Cer Gibbons
- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UK
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Rix K, Demchur NJ, Zane DF, Brown LH. Injury rates per mile of travel for electric scooters versus motor vehicles. Am J Emerg Med 2020; 40:166-168. [PMID: 33139141 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2020.10.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study determined the vehicle-miles-traveled (VMT)-based injury rate for stand-up, dockless electric rental scooters (e-scooters), and compare it with the VMT-based injury rate for motor vehicle travel. METHODS In this secondary analysis of existing data, the e-scooter injury rate was calculated based on e-scooter injuries presenting to an emergency department or the emergency medical services system in Austin, TX between September and November 2018. Injuries were identified by Austin Public Health through a targeted e-scooter epidemiological injury investigation; e-scooter VMT data were reported by e-scooter vendors as a condition of their city licensing. Comparative injury rates for motor vehicle travel in Texas, and specifically in Travis County were calculated using annual motor vehicle crash (MVC) injury and VMT data reported by the Texas Department of Transportation. RESULTS There were 160 confirmed e-scooter injuries identified by the e-scooter injury investigation, with 891,121 reported miles of e-scooter travel during the study period. This produces an injury rate estimate of 180 injuries/million VMT (MVMT). The injury rates for motor vehicle travel for Texas and for Travis County were 0.9 injuries/MVMT and 1.0 injuries/MVMT, respectively. CONCLUSION The observed VMT-based e-scooter injury rate was approximately 175 to 200 times higher than statewide or county specific injury rates for motor vehicle travel. These findings raise concerns about the potential higher injury rate associated with e-scooters, and highlight the need for further injury surveillance, research and prevention activities addressing this emerging transportation technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Rix
- Trauma Service/Injury Prevention, Dell-Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Nora J Demchur
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, Dell Medical School at the University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA
| | - David F Zane
- Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit, Austin Public Health, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Lawrence H Brown
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, Dell Medical School at the University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA; U.S. Acute Care Solutions, Canton, OH, USA.
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English KC, Allen JR, Rix K, Zane DF, Ziebell CM, Brown CVR, Brown LH. The characteristics of dockless electric rental scooter-related injuries in a large U.S. city. Traffic Inj Prev 2020; 21:476-481. [PMID: 32783642 DOI: 10.1080/15389588.2020.1804059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the characteristics of dockless electric rental scooter ("e-scooter")-related injuries presenting to two emergency departments in one large U.S. city. METHODS This observational cohort study utilized the city's public health syndromic surveillance system to prospectively identify patients with e-scooter-related injuries presenting between September and November 2018. The medical records for all adult patients treated at the two participating emergency departments were manually reviewed to extract demographic and clinical data. Cases involving mobility scooters or non-electric scooters were excluded. RESULTS For the 124 included adult patients with e-scooter-related injuries, the median age was 30 years (IQR: 22-43), they were predominantly male (59.7%), and approximately half (51.6%) arrived by ambulance. Falling from the scooter (84.7%) was the most common mechanism; twelve patients (9.7%) had collided with a motor vehicle. Head and face injuries (45.5%) were common; only 2 patients (1.6%) were documented as wearing a helmet at the time of injury. Most patients (n = 112, 90.3%) required imaging, more than half (n = 78, 62.9%) required an emergency department procedure, and 26 (21.0%) required surgical intervention. Most patients were discharged home, but 35 (28.2%) were admitted to hospital. Two patients (1.6%) were admitted to the intensive care unit. CONCLUSIONS E-scooters are an emerging transportation technology associated with a wide range of potentially serious injuries that consume substantial emergency department and hospital resources. Head injuries are a particular concern, as few e-scooter riders are wearing helmets at the time of injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey C English
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, Dell Medical School, University of Texas, Austin, Texas
| | - Justin R Allen
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, Dell Medical School, University of Texas, Austin, Texas
| | - Kevin Rix
- Division of Acute Care Surgery/Trauma Service, Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, Dell Medical School, University of Texas, Austin, Texas
| | - David F Zane
- Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit, Austin Public Health, Austin, Texas
| | - Christopher M Ziebell
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, Dell Medical School, University of Texas, Austin, Texas
| | - Carlos V R Brown
- Division of Acute Care Surgery/Trauma Service, Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, Dell Medical School, University of Texas, Austin, Texas
| | - Lawrence H Brown
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, Dell Medical School, University of Texas, Austin, Texas
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Puzio TJ, Murphy PB, Gazzetta J, Dineen HA, Savage SA, Streib EW, Zarzaur BL. The electric scooter: A surging new mode of transportation that comes with risk to riders. Traffic Inj Prev 2020; 21:175-178. [PMID: 32023131 DOI: 10.1080/15389588.2019.1709176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Objective: The proliferation of electric scooter sharing companies has inundated many municipalities with electric scooters. The primary objective of this study is to characterize the epidemiology of injuries from this new mode of transportation in order to inform injury prevention efforts.Methods: A multicenter, retrospective study was conducted at two level 1 trauma centers in an urban setting. Patients seen in the emergency department from September 4, 2018 to November 4, 2018 were included if injury coding and chart review identified a scooter-related injury. Demographics, injury patterns, and other injury related factors were obtained via chart review.Results: Ninety-two patients were identified over the study period in 2018 with electric scooter-related injuries. Of the patients utilizing an electric scooter; none used protective gear and 33% used alcohol prior to presentation. More than 60% of patients required medical intervention including laceration repair (26%), fracture reduction (17%), operative fixation of a fracture (7%), or arterial embolization for an associated arterial injury (1%). Approximately 10% of patients required inpatient admission and one required an admission to the intensive care unit.Conclusion: We found a substantial increase in the number of scooter-related injuries during the first two months of electric scooter legalization. There was a lack of safety equipment utilization and concomitant alcohol utilization was common. These may offer areas of focus for injury prevention efforts. Additionally, standardization of injury coding for electric scooter related injury is critical to future studies and will help better understand the impact of this new mode of transportation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thaddeus J Puzio
- Department of Acute Care Surgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Patrick B Murphy
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Josh Gazzetta
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Hannah A Dineen
- Department of Hand Surgery, Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Stephanie A Savage
- Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Erik W Streib
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Ben L Zarzaur
- Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
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Nellamattathil M, Amber I. An evaluation of scooter injury and injury patterns following widespread adoption of E-scooters in a major metropolitan area. Clin Imaging 2020; 60:200-3. [PMID: 31927494 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2019.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Despite the increasing use of e-scooters globally, the pattern of injuries on diagnostic imaging had not been well-documented to date. We performed a retrospective study utilizing our health system's radiology database to characterize the injury distribution and imaging features of scooter injuries. METHODS We utilized our radiology report database searching for any imaging report containing the word "scooter", beginning September 1, 2017, when scooters were first introduced to our area through December 1, 2018. RESULTS Our search yielded a total of 54 patients with 105 imaging studies. The injuries predominantly affected the musculoskeletal system, with a predilection to the upper extremity. We had no cases of visceral or neurotrauma. CONCLUSION Musculoskeletal injuries were the predominant form of scooter injury. The lack of visceral injury suggests that emergency physicians should consider having a higher clinical threshold for ordering these studies in patients with scooter injuries.
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Aizpuru M, Farley KX, Rojas JC, Crawford RS, Moore TJ, Wagner ER. Motorized scooter injuries in the era of scooter-shares: A review of the national electronic surveillance system. Am J Emerg Med 2019; 37:1133-1138. [PMID: 30952603 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2019.03.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2018] [Revised: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There has been a spike in recent news regarding motorized scooter injuries due to the expansion of scooter sharing companies. Given the paucity of literature on this topic, the purpose of our study was to describe and quantify emergency department encounters associated with motorized scooter related injuries. METHODS The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) was queried for motorized scooter related injuries from 2013 to 2017. Patient demographics, diagnosis, injury location, narrative description of incident, and disposition data were collected from emergency department encounters. RESULTS There were an estimated 32,400 motorized scooter injuries from 2013 to 2017. The estimated incidence did not change significantly over time with 1.9 cases per 100,000 in 2013 and 2.6 cases per 100,000 in 2017. A 77.0% increase in scooter injuries was noted for millennials from 2016 to 2017. Head injuries were the most common body area injured (27.6%). Fractures or dislocations (25.9%) were the most common diagnosis. The most common site of fracture was the wrist and lower arm (35.4%). There were no deaths. Major orthopaedic injury and concussion were the strongest independent predictors of hospital admission. CONCLUSIONS Head injuries were the most commonly injured body part, while fractures or dislocations were the most common diagnosis. These results highlight the importance of using protective equipment while riding motorized scooters, and lay a foundation for future policies requiring helmet use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Aizpuru
- Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Kevin X Farley
- Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Orthopaedics, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Jaimie C Rojas
- New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States of America
| | - Robert S Crawford
- Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Vascular Division, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Thomas J Moore
- Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Orthopaedics, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Eric R Wagner
- Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Orthopaedics, Atlanta, GA, United States of America.
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Mortenson WB, Jang S, Goldsmith CH, Hurd Clarke L, Hobson S, Emery R. Feasibility of a Systematic, Comprehensive, One-to-One Training (SCOOT) program for new scooter users: study protocol for a randomized control trial. Trials 2017; 18:235. [PMID: 28545498 PMCID: PMC5445361 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-017-1963-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mobility scooters can facilitate community participation among individuals with mobility limitations. However, accidents are a serious concern with scooter use. Scooter training has been recommended to improve safety, but there are currently few validated programs available. Therefore, we developed a Systematic, Comprehensive, One-to-One Training (SCOOT) program for scooter users. We will conduct a study to evaluate the outcomes produced by the provision SCOOT. Methods This feasibility study will use a mixed-methods, rater-blinded, randomized control trial, with a two-step wedge design. The study has two arms: an immediate intervention group, which will receive the intervention directly after baseline assessments, and a delayed intervention group, which will receive the intervention after a 6-week period. Forty participants, who will be stratified based on whether or not participants have previously held a driver’s license, will be randomly assigned to each arm. The intervention for this study consists of 6 weeks of one-to-one scooter training by an experienced occupational therapist, who will provide training once or twice per week over the 6 weeks. The primary outcome measure is subjective scooter skills, measured using the Wheelchair Skills Test for scooters. Secondary outcomes include objective scooter skills, confidence, mobility, and satisfaction with selected participation activities. Descriptive measures include cognitive status, functional status, hearing, vision, physical accessibility of the home and community, and visual attention and task switching. Qualitative interviews will be conducted with the first ten willing participants from each group to learn about their scooter use and experiences with SCOOT. Discussion The results of this study will inform a larger randomized control trial. If the intervention is proven to be effective in this larger study, it may have important implications for policy and practice. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02696213. Registered on 23 February 2016. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13063-017-1963-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Ben Mortenson
- The Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of British Columbia, T-325-2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2B5, Canada.
| | - Sharon Jang
- GF Strong Rehabilitation Center, 4255 Laurel Street, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 2G9, Canada
| | - Charlie H Goldsmith
- Mary Pack Arthritis Center, 895 West 10th Ave., Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1L7, Canada
| | - Laura Hurd Clarke
- University of British Columbia, 1924 West Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z2, Canada.,School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, 1156-1924 West Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z2, Canada
| | - Sandra Hobson
- University of Western Ontario, 1201 Western Road, London, ONT, N6G 1H1, Canada
| | - Richelle Emery
- Vancouver Coastal Health - Community Care, 520 West 6th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1A1, Canada
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Regan MA, Lintern G, Hutchinson R, Turetschek C. Use of Cognitive Work Analysis for exploration of safety management in the operation of motorcycles and scooters. Accid Anal Prev 2015; 74:279-289. [PMID: 25063997 DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2014.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2013] [Revised: 04/29/2014] [Accepted: 07/03/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The risk of accident, injury and death is disproportionately higher for motorcycle riders than for motorists. In this paper, we investigate strategies of safety management associated with operation of powered two-wheel vehicles (motorcycles and scooters). Accident prevention is most often driven by an epidemiological approach that investigates the risk factors associated with accidents. By focusing on risk factors, these types of studies fail to examine the strengths of the system in any depth. In this paper we employ an ethnographic approach structured by reference to the framework of Cognitive Work Analysis, to identify how riders of powered two-wheel vehicles manage their own safety and the safety of others. We anticipate that this research will open up a rich, relatively untapped, area for exploration of safety interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Regan
- Transport and Road Safety (TARS) Research, School of Aviation, University of New South Wales Australia, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
| | - Gavan Lintern
- Transport and Road Safety (TARS) Research, School of Aviation, University of New South Wales Australia, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
| | - Robin Hutchinson
- Transport and Road Safety (TARS) Research, School of Aviation, University of New South Wales Australia, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
| | - Christine Turetschek
- Transport and Road Safety (TARS) Research, School of Aviation, University of New South Wales Australia, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
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