08 Jan Head Injuries Common Among Electric Scooter Riders

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Breyer

Benjamin N. Breyer MD, MAS, FACS
Associate Professor
Departments of Urology and Epidemiology and Biostatistics
University of California, San Francisco

Vice-Chair of Urology
Chief of Urology, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center
Director, UCSF Male Genitourinary Reconstruction and Trauma Surgery Fellowship

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: There has been a large increase in upright scooter usage among adults as a mode of transportation. It’s convenient for commuters and may encourage greater use of public transit leading to less car traffic in cities.

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?

Response: We examined a government sponsored data repository of emergency room visits related to scooter usage. We found a large increase injury incidence and admissions, especially in the 19-34 age range. 32% of the injured had a head injury. The percent of head injuries is twice that of cyclists when compared to a previous study of bicycle injuries using the same data source.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: Scooter riders should be aware that injuries happen, especially head injuries.  Riders should wear helmets and avoid traveling at excessive speeds.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this work? 

Response: I’d really like bike and scooter share companies to figure out ways to promote helmet usage among riders. There is an immediate need to promote helmet usage and make them broadly available to riders. Future research should focus on getting greater detail into injury mechanism and why they happen. Understanding what factors contribute to why the injuries occur will allow for interventions to improve safety (such as building safer scooters or changing the rules for riding).

No disclosures.

Citation:

Namiri NK, Lui H, Tangney T, Allen IE, Cohen AJ, Breyer BN. Electric Scooter Injuries and Hospital Admissions in the United States, 2014-2018. JAMA Surg. Published online January 08, 2020. doi:https://doi.org/10.1001/jamasurg.2019.5423

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Last Updated on January 8, 2020 by Marie Benz MD FAAD