A comprehensive review of current trends in e-scooter associated injuries, associated outcomes, and effective interventions: Towards establishing sustainable prevention interventions

Abstract

Introduction: This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of electric-scooter (E-Scooter) injuries by evaluating the incidence, common mechanisms of injury, clinical outcomes, associated costs, and effective interventions for injury prevention.

Methods: A literature search using PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, and ProQuest was performed to identify relevant articles published between July 10, 2014, and July 10, 2024. Outcomes of interest included epidemiologic trends of E-Scooter injuries, common mechanisms of injury, associated risk factors, clinical outcomes, and interventions to decrease E-Scooter injuries.

Results: A total of 41 articles were included in this study, with 39 evaluating the epidemiologic trends of e-scooter injuries, 22 the most common mechanisms of injury, 21 assessed intoxication, 15 assessed helmet usage, 33 determined patient's clinical outcomes, and 3 assessed effective interventions for decreasing the incidence of e-scooter injuries. Falls were the most common mechanism of injury; however, collisions with motor vehicles caused more severe injuries. Additionally, studies showed that up to 74 % of all E-Scooter injuries included alcohol intoxication, and over 80 % did not use a helmet leading to severe head injuries.

Conclusion: The incidence of E-Scooter related injuries rose significantly in recent years. These injuries typically result from falls and MVAs and are compounded by factors including limited helmet usage and riding while intoxicated. These contribute to the poorer clinical outcomes seen with E-Scooter injuries. However, there remains a significant paucity of literature focused on the outcomes of policies and interventions designed to reduce these injuries. Further investigation must address these gaps and discrepancies to inform future policies.

Keywords: Electric Scooter; Incidence; Injury; Prevention Interventions; Trauma Outcomes.