Impact of e-scooter injuries on Emergency Department imaging

Abstract

Introduction: Since the introduction of a shared e-scooter service to Auckland in October there have been multiple media reports of associated injuries, but no quantitation of the number or severity of these injuries, or the impact on hospital emergency department services in Auckland.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review on all patients referred to Auckland hospital ED radiology with the indication containing 'e-scooter' between 15 August 2018 and 15 December 2018. All requests were screened to ensure that the injury was caused by an e-scooter. Recorded data included patient demographics, type of imaging utilised, injury type, and whether admission or surgery was required.

Results: Sixty-four patients met the inclusion criteria, only one of these was prior to introduction of shared e-scooters on 15 October 2018. Of these, there were 27 limb fractures, 3 dislocations, a fractured spine, 12 patients with concussion, 1 extra-dural bleed, 9 facial/skull fractures and multiple soft tissue injuries. Almost 40% of the patients required admission to a specialty service following imaging, and 25.4% required surgery. A total of 221 plain films and 47 CT scans were performed for e-scooter injuries in the 2-month period after their introduction.

Conclusion: Introduction of shared e-scooters has resulted in a large number of serious related injuries that have required urgent radiology imaging. Many of these patients required further specialist consultation or surgery, and place an increased burden on overstretched emergency department services.

Keywords: e-scooter; electric scooter; emergency; imaging; radiology.