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. 2014:2014:850236.
doi: 10.1155/2014/850236. Epub 2014 Mar 20.

E-bike injuries: experience from an urban emergency department-a retrospective study from Switzerland

Sylvana Papoutsi  1 , Luca Martinolli  1 , Christian Tasso Braun  1 , Aristomenis K Exadaktylos  1
Affiliations

E-bike injuries: experience from an urban emergency department-a retrospective study from Switzerland

Sylvana Papoutsi et al. Emerg Med Int. 2014.

Abstract

Background. Between 2005 and 2012, annual sales of E-bikes in Switzerland increased from 1,792 to 52,941. This continuous and rapid transition from human-powered bicycles to an electric bicycle technology may indicate the increasing demand for low-cost transportation technology in combination with a healthy lifestyle. Material and Methods. In the present study, from April 2012 to September 2013, we retrospectively analysed E-bike accidents treated in the Emergency Department of our hospital by focusing on the following parameters: age, gender, time, period, and cause of the accident, as well as injury and outcome. Results. Patients were predominantly male. The mean age of injured E-cyclists was 47.5 years. The main causes of injury were self-accident. Most injuries were to the head/neck. The mean ISS was 8.48. The outcome showed that 9 patients were treated as outpatients, 9 were inpatients, and 5 patients were kept in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Only six patients underwent surgery (S). Discussion. This is the first attempt to evaluate E-bike injuries in Switzerland in an acute hospital setting. Since there is increasing popular preference for E-bikes as means of transportation and injuries to the head or neck are prevalent among E-cyclists, the hazard should not to be underestimated.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Percentage of injured regions among E-cyclists (%).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Type of injuries in E-cyclists in percentage (%).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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