Orthopedic injury patterns and clinical outcomes in electric scooter-related trauma

Abstract

Aims: Electric scooter (e-scooter) use has risen sharply in urban areas, accompanied by an increase in related traumatic injuries. This study aimed to evaluate the orthopedic burden of e-scooter accidents, identify injury patterns associated with surgical management, and analyze postoperative outcomes. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 320 patients presenting with orthopedic injuries related to e-scooter accidents between January 2022 and January 2025. Demographic, clinical, and radiographic data were extracted from electronic health records. The relationship between specific injury features—open fractures, dislocations, and multiple fractures—and surgical intervention was assessed using univariate analysis and visualized through a cumulative risk model. Descriptive analysis was performed for operative subgroups based on surgical technique. Results: Among 320 patients (mean age: 31.8±12.0 years, 74% male), 96 (30%) underwent surgery. Operative patients were significantly older (39.2±12.2 vs. 28.6±10.4 years, p<0.001) and more likely to present with open fractures (31% vs. 0.9%, p<0.001), dislocations (24% vs. 2.7%, p<0.001), and multiple fractures (65% vs. 21%, p<0.001). Hospital stay was longer (4.8±2.2 vs. 1.2±0.9 days, p<0.001) and complication rates higher (19% vs. 0.9%, p<0.001) in the operative group. Surgical likelihood increased with the number of high-risk injury features: from 9.5% with none to 100% with all three. Among operative patients, open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) was most common (64%). External fixation had the longest hospital stay, while intramedullary nailing showed the highest complication rate. Conclusion: E-scooter-related trauma results in a substantial orthopedic burden. Open fractures, dislocations, and multiple injuries significantly increase the likelihood of surgery and postoperative complications. Early recognition of these features may support surgical planning and improve trauma triage in urban emergency settings.

Keywords

• E-scooter
• orthopedic trauma
• fracture
• dislocation
• surgery
• complication

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