Men aged between 20 and 39 most at risk of e-scooter injuries, study shows
Sarah Slater
The risk associated with e-scooter use "cannot be overstated," with those at most risk being male and aged between 20 and 39, a new Irish study shows.
The majority of those injured are male and aged between 20 and 39 years old.
The study aimed to quantify the impact of e-scooter-related injuries on healthcare resources at the Mater University Hospital in Dublin over a two year period from May 1, 2021 to June 30, 2023.
Published in this month's Irish Medical Journal, the study highlighted the injuries of 380 patients, of which 259 were male and predominantly aged 20-39 years, 351 were riders.
A significant proportion of 143 patients were triaged as “very urgent”. 53 or almost 14 per cent required admission, 43 or 11 per cent underwent surgery.
A total of 168 or 44 per cent of patients required outpatient follow-up.
The average length of stay was almost six days. Ten patients required admission to a critical care ward including seven patients to High Dependency Units and three to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
52 per cent or 197 of patients suffered extremity trauma, 31 per cent of patients had either a head or spinal injury and 10 per cent experienced injuries to multiple regions.
One percent had intracranial hemorrhages of which two required transfer to Beaumont Hospital for operative care. Most patients (327) required management of their injuries in the Emergency Department or via ward based observation.
Researchers recorded one fatality - a pedestrian knocked down by an e-scooter rider.
Authors of the study titled E-scooter related presentation to an urban trauma centre: A two-year analysis of patient volume, injury patterns and healthcare pattern stress that further proposals for unregulated e-scooter rental availability present a “very serious public health risk” when late-night use is considered.
They pointed out that the risk associated with e-scooter use" cannot be overstated and careful thought and regulation about rider safety must be prioritised beyond current minimal provisions."
Regulatory efforts to address these risks are increasing worldwide with Paris being the first European capital to ban e-scooter rentals since September 2023.
In Ireland, although e-scooter use was previously illegal, the Road Traffic and Roads Act introduced regulation allowing their use under specific conditions. The new legislation exempts Powered Personal Transporters (PPTs) from registration, insurance and licensing requirements but imposes limits on their power, weight and design.
The study found that 12 per cent of patients underwent operative management of which a considerable proportion at 83 per cent was for extremity injuries and a smaller proportion underwent either spinal or craniofacial surgery at 21 per cent while 44 per cent of the patients required follow-up surgical outpatient departments.
Up to 123 or 32 per cent suffered upper limb injuries, 107 suffered head injuries, 74 patients had lower limb injuries, 39 with polytrauma, thorax 18, spine 13 and abdomen four.
33 per cent of the patients required transportation to the hospital by ambulance. 145 or 38 per cent of the patients were triaged as immediate and very urgent presentations to the Emergency Department, representing more than a third of the cohort.
E-scooter injuries more frequently involve date head and upper extremities and this is consistent with previous studies, the authors highlighted. The injury patterns lead to higher rates of injuries requiring admission and surgery compared with those seen in bicycle-related trauma.
“The risk associated with e-scooter use cannot be overstated and careful thought and regulation about rider safety must be prioritised beyond current minimal provisions,” the co-authors outlined.
“E-scooter related injuries represent a significant and growing burden on trauma and emergency care systems. Our findings align with international trends demonstrating high rates of features, surgical intervention and extended hospital stays.”
They added that the increasing number of e-scooter related presentations "underscore the need for improved safety measures," including public awareness campaigns, helmet mandates and infrastructure improvements to reduce injury severity.
A clear seasonal trend was observed with increased presentation during the summer months in the study. Study authors also noted a year-on-year increase in e-scooter related presentations, emphasising the growing popularity and associated risks of this type of transport.
