E-scooter use continues to rev up fracture diagnoses and hospital admissions compared to other modes of transportation

Abstract

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an increase in popularity of e-scooter usage and a rise in e-scooter related injuries. Recent studies have elucidated trends within e-scooter injuries but there are few epidemiological studies that evaluate injury rates amongst multiple modes of transportation. This study seeks to investigate trends of e-scooter orthopedic fracture injuries compared to other traditional methods of transportation using a national database. MethodsThe National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database was queried between 2014 and 2020 for patients who were injured after usage of e-scooters, bicycles, or all-terrain vehicles. Primary analysis included patients with a diagnosis of fracture and utilized univariate/multivariate models to evaluate risk of hospital admission. Secondary analysis included all isolated patients to evaluate the odds of fracture development amongst modes of transportation. ResultsA total of 70,719 patients with injuries associated with e-scooter, bicycle, or all-terrain vehicle use were isolated. 15997 (22.6%) of these patients had a fracture diagnosis. Both e-scooters and all-terrain vehicles reported increased odds of fracture-related injury and direct hospitalization when compared to bicycles. E-scooter users reported a greater odds of both associated fracture (OR 1.25; 95%CI 1.03–1.51; p = 0.024) and hospital admission (OR: 2.01; 95%CI: 1.26–3.21; p = 0.003) in 2020 compared to 2014–2015. DiscussionE-scooter related orthopedic injuries and hospital admissions had the largest incidence rate increase compared to bicycle and all-terrain vehicles between 2014 and 2020. E-scooter fractures were most commonly located in the lower leg in 2014–2017, the wrist in 2018–2019, and the upper trunk in 2020. In comparison, bicycle and all-terrain vehicle fractures was most commonly shoulder and upper trunk within the study period. Further research will help to promote further understanding of the e-scooter health care burden and in prevention of these injuries. Level of evidence3.