Analysis of Traumatic Electric Scooter Injuries and Prevention

Abstract

Purpose of Review: Electric scooter falls and collisions are becoming more prominent mechanisms of injury in trauma. With the continued use of electric scooters, hospitals are anticipated to more frequently encounter patients presenting with a wide array of injuries. We sought to analyze the pattern of injuries associated with electric scooters in adults and pediatrics and ascertain ways to prevent or limit the degree of injuries to patients who use electric scooters. Recent Findings: The injuries associated with electric scooters have the potential to be severe and can include intra-abdominal hemorrhage, intra-thoracic hemorrhage, intracranial hemorrhage, and fractures of the skull, facial bones, ribs, and long bones. There is some support for laws regarding electric scooter use which can be helpful to reduce the injury burden for this particular mechanism. Summary: Traumas involving electric scooters are becoming increasingly prevalent. Injuries can be just as severe if not more severe than other trauma mechanisms. The focus of this chapter is to enhance the understanding of trauma from electric scooter injuries by summarizing injury patterns and evaluating the epidemiology to guide clinicians and highlight areas of future research.