Abstract

This study presents the epidemiology and the development of e-scooter and non-electric scooter injuries in children and adolescents to highlight the nature and the severity of such injuries. All children and adolescents with electric or non-electric scooter related injuries between January 2019 until December 2022 were included in this single-centre study and retrospectively evaluated. An epidemiological overview including age, sex, type of scooter, injury mechanism, diagnosed injuries and surgical interventions were presented. Further, statistical comparisons of the means and proportions of injuries and the number of surgical interventions between electric and non-electric scooter riders were made. The study consists of 633 children and adolescents (9.1 ± 5.0 years; 231 female, 36.5%, 402 male, 63.5%). 80.1% (8.0 ± 4.1 years) used non-electric scooters, while 19.9% (14.2 ± 4.1 years) used e-scooters. In comparison, adolescent e-scooter riders were significantly more likely to be involved in traffic accidents (non-electric scooter: 16/507; e-scooter: 21/126; p = 0.0001) and suffered severe head injuries more often (non-electric scooter: 8/134; e-scooter: 7/37; p = 0.0217) than patients riding non-electric scooters. Adolescent e-scooter riders were more likely to be involved in potentially life-threatening traffic accidents having a higher risk of severe head injuries requiring surgery compared to non-electric scooter riders. Adolescent e-scooter riders have a higher risk to be involved in potentially life-threatening traffic accidents than riders of non-electric scooters. E-scooter riders have a higher risk of sustaining serious head injuries requiring surgical intervention than non-electric scooter riders. The data highly recommends the implementation of prevention strategies especially educating youth and parents and wearing protective clothing. Legislation and law enforcement could help prevent such injuries and potentially life-threatening traffic accidents involving children and adolescents who ride e-scooters.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.