TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2024//
TI  - Burden and patterns of electric scooter-related injuries: insights from 2 Polish emergency departments
JO  - Medical science monitor
A1  - Kłosiewicz, Tomasz
A1  - Konieczka, Patryk
A1  - Rutkowska, Dorota
A1  - Duchań-Ogrodnik, Daniel Piotr
A1  - Zasada, Wiktoria
A1  - Cholerzyńska, Hanna
A1  - Rozmarynowska, Monika
A1  - Bednorz, Mateusz
A1  - Jodłowski, Łukasz
SP  - e944448
EP  - e944448
VL  - 30
IS  - 
N2  - BACKGROUND The widespread adoption of electric scooters (e-scooters) as a mode of urban transportation has led to a notable upsurge in e-scooter-related injuries globally. Variations in e-scooter regulations across countries contribute to differences in injury patterns. This study sought to investigate the healthcare burden posed by e-scooter-related injuries on emergency departments (EDs) in Poland, and to delineate the epidemiological and clinical features of these injuries. MATERIAL AND METHODS Medical records of patients who presented to 2 distinct EDs - in Poznań and Bydgoszcz, Poland - with injuries directly linked to e-scooter use were collected and retrospectively analyzed. <br><br>RESULTS A total of 633 patients were admitted to the EDs due to e-scooter injuries during the study period, and 413 of these patients were further analyzed. The majority were males (64.65%), with a median age of 27 years. Most admissions occurred in the afternoon and nighttime (71.94%), with a higher incidence in the summer (46.73%). Falls were the most frequent mechanism of injury (74.09%), with the head and upper and lower extremities being the most frequently affected locations (36.08%, 29.78%, and 21.07%, respectively). Twelve patients (2.91%) confirmed recent alcohol consumption. Hospitalization costs were higher in cases involving alcohol use and among males. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study underscore the significant strain exerted by e-scooter-related injuries on EDs in Poland. Injuries, notably to the head and limbs, carry significant long-term implications and strain healthcare resources. Collaboration with policymakers is crucial to ensure the safety of e-scooter users and appropriate healthcare resource allocation.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1234-1010
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.12659/MSM.944448
ID  - ref1
ER  -