Segway® related injuries in Vienna: report from the Lorenz Böhler Trauma Centre

Abstract

Introduction: The Segway® vehicle facilitates a new way of eco-friendly mobility and is currently used all over the world. In the last years, the use of the Segway® transporters for sightseeing tours in Vienna has increased distinctly, resulting in a growing number of Segway® related injuries and subsequent admissions of these patients to the Lorenz Böhler Trauma Centre in Vienna, Austria.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of clinical records in the electronic data system of the LBTC in Vienna, Austria, was performed to identify Segway® transporter related injuries between January 2010 and December 2012.

Results: Eighty-six patients represented the study cohort. The median age was 38 years (range 14-80 years) with a majority of male patients. Most common injuries were contusions (24, 6 %, n = 44) and fractures (23, 5 %, n = 42). The most frequent injury was a fracture of the radial head in 15, 1 % of all patients. 13 (15, 1 %) of 86 patients required admission and seven (8, 1 %) of these 13 patients had surgical treatment.

Conclusion: This case series presents severe injuries related to the use of a Segway® transporter. As a consequence, it has to be ensured that public tour operators need to provide sufficient safety instructions and equipment for people who are unfamiliar with riding a Segway® .

Keywords: Radial head fracture; Segway; Segway transporter; Segway vehicle.