Characteristics of e-scooter and bicycle injuries at a university hospital in a large German city – a one-year analysis
Abstract Background The increasing adoption of individual urban mobility in European cities is contributing to a rise in the number of bicycle and e-scooter users. Consequently, a corresponding increase in accidents, along with an additional burden on emergency departments, is anticipated, particula...
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Injury Epidemiology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40621-024-00554-w |
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| author | Frederik Hartz Philipp Zehnder Tobias Resch Gregor Römmermann Victoria Hartmann Markus Schwarz Chlodwig Kirchhoff Peter Biberthaler Michael Zyskowski |
| author_facet | Frederik Hartz Philipp Zehnder Tobias Resch Gregor Römmermann Victoria Hartmann Markus Schwarz Chlodwig Kirchhoff Peter Biberthaler Michael Zyskowski |
| author_sort | Frederik Hartz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The increasing adoption of individual urban mobility in European cities is contributing to a rise in the number of bicycle and e-scooter users. Consequently, a corresponding increase in accidents, along with an additional burden on emergency departments, is anticipated, particularly in metropolitan areas. The objective of this prospective cross-sectional study was to gather detailed information regarding the patient demographics, accident mechanisms, and injury patterns of e-scooter riders in comparison to cyclists. Identifying any differences between these groups will provide a foundation for developing targeted prevention strategies and safety measures aimed at reducing the incidence of accidents and injuries. Methods All patients who presented to the emergency department of our level I university trauma center after an accident involving a traditional bicycle without electric assistance or an e-scooter in 2022 were recorded. Demographic data as well as information regarding the trauma mechanism, injury pattern, alcohol influence, treatment requirements and helmet use were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Results In 2022, a total of 626 patients were identified after a bicycle accident and 98 patients after an e-scooter accident. E-scooter riders were with a mean age of 31.0 years (standard deviation (SD) 10.7) significantly younger compared to bicycle riders at 43.2 years (SD 16.5; p < 0.001). More than half of the patients in both groups were male (e-scooter 69.4% versus bicycle 60.7%). E-scooter riders were more likely to be intoxicated (31.6% vs. 5.4%; p < 0.001), not wearing a helmet (93.9% vs. 78.4%; p < 0.001) and to have had accidents at nighttime (39.8% vs. 11.5%; p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the distribution of minor (e-scooter 75.2% vs. bicycle 70.3%) and major (24.8% vs. 29.7%) injuries. In terms of body regions, e-scooter riders suffered from major injuries to the skull, facial cranium, cervical spine (43.8% e-scooter vs. 22.4% bicycle; p = 0.008) and less frequently to the trunk, thoracic and lumbar spine and pelvis (0.0% vs. 13.6%). Conclusion Compared to cyclists, injured e-scooter riders are younger, mostly do not wear a helmet and more often ride under the influence of alcohol. E-scooter accidents occur more frequently at night and the riders are more likely to suffer serious head injuries. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-15ff27258d7b41ea9f2abfe65fdfb496 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2197-1714 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Injury Epidemiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-15ff27258d7b41ea9f2abfe65fdfb4962025-01-12T12:04:40ZengBMCInjury Epidemiology2197-17142025-01-011211910.1186/s40621-024-00554-wCharacteristics of e-scooter and bicycle injuries at a university hospital in a large German city – a one-year analysisFrederik Hartz0Philipp Zehnder1Tobias Resch2Gregor Römmermann3Victoria Hartmann4Markus Schwarz5Chlodwig Kirchhoff6Peter Biberthaler7Michael Zyskowski8Department of Trauma Surgery, TUM University Hospital Klinikum Rechts der IsarDepartment of Trauma Surgery, TUM University Hospital Klinikum Rechts der IsarDepartment of Trauma Surgery, TUM University Hospital Klinikum Rechts der IsarDepartment of Trauma Surgery, TUM University Hospital Klinikum Rechts der IsarDepartment of Trauma Surgery, TUM University Hospital Klinikum Rechts der IsarDepartment of Trauma Surgery, TUM University Hospital Klinikum Rechts der IsarDepartment of Trauma Surgery, TUM University Hospital Klinikum Rechts der IsarDepartment of Trauma Surgery, TUM University Hospital Klinikum Rechts der IsarDepartment of Trauma Surgery, TUM University Hospital Klinikum Rechts der IsarAbstract Background The increasing adoption of individual urban mobility in European cities is contributing to a rise in the number of bicycle and e-scooter users. Consequently, a corresponding increase in accidents, along with an additional burden on emergency departments, is anticipated, particularly in metropolitan areas. The objective of this prospective cross-sectional study was to gather detailed information regarding the patient demographics, accident mechanisms, and injury patterns of e-scooter riders in comparison to cyclists. Identifying any differences between these groups will provide a foundation for developing targeted prevention strategies and safety measures aimed at reducing the incidence of accidents and injuries. Methods All patients who presented to the emergency department of our level I university trauma center after an accident involving a traditional bicycle without electric assistance or an e-scooter in 2022 were recorded. Demographic data as well as information regarding the trauma mechanism, injury pattern, alcohol influence, treatment requirements and helmet use were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Results In 2022, a total of 626 patients were identified after a bicycle accident and 98 patients after an e-scooter accident. E-scooter riders were with a mean age of 31.0 years (standard deviation (SD) 10.7) significantly younger compared to bicycle riders at 43.2 years (SD 16.5; p < 0.001). More than half of the patients in both groups were male (e-scooter 69.4% versus bicycle 60.7%). E-scooter riders were more likely to be intoxicated (31.6% vs. 5.4%; p < 0.001), not wearing a helmet (93.9% vs. 78.4%; p < 0.001) and to have had accidents at nighttime (39.8% vs. 11.5%; p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the distribution of minor (e-scooter 75.2% vs. bicycle 70.3%) and major (24.8% vs. 29.7%) injuries. In terms of body regions, e-scooter riders suffered from major injuries to the skull, facial cranium, cervical spine (43.8% e-scooter vs. 22.4% bicycle; p = 0.008) and less frequently to the trunk, thoracic and lumbar spine and pelvis (0.0% vs. 13.6%). Conclusion Compared to cyclists, injured e-scooter riders are younger, mostly do not wear a helmet and more often ride under the influence of alcohol. E-scooter accidents occur more frequently at night and the riders are more likely to suffer serious head injuries.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40621-024-00554-wMicromobilityE-scooterInjury preventionEmergency medicineAccident analysisHead injury |
| spellingShingle | Frederik Hartz Philipp Zehnder Tobias Resch Gregor Römmermann Victoria Hartmann Markus Schwarz Chlodwig Kirchhoff Peter Biberthaler Michael Zyskowski Characteristics of e-scooter and bicycle injuries at a university hospital in a large German city – a one-year analysis Injury Epidemiology Micromobility E-scooter Injury prevention Emergency medicine Accident analysis Head injury |
| title | Characteristics of e-scooter and bicycle injuries at a university hospital in a large German city – a one-year analysis |
| title_full | Characteristics of e-scooter and bicycle injuries at a university hospital in a large German city – a one-year analysis |
| title_fullStr | Characteristics of e-scooter and bicycle injuries at a university hospital in a large German city – a one-year analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characteristics of e-scooter and bicycle injuries at a university hospital in a large German city – a one-year analysis |
| title_short | Characteristics of e-scooter and bicycle injuries at a university hospital in a large German city – a one-year analysis |
| title_sort | characteristics of e scooter and bicycle injuries at a university hospital in a large german city a one year analysis |
| topic | Micromobility E-scooter Injury prevention Emergency medicine Accident analysis Head injury |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40621-024-00554-w |
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