School of Medicine and Health Sciences Poster Presentations

Incidence of Fractures Requiring Orthopedic Operative Intervention Following Electric Scooter Injuries

Document Type

Poster

Abstract Category

Clinical Specialties

Keywords

Orthopedic Surgery, Trauma, Electric Scooter

Publication Date

Spring 5-1-2019

Abstract

Introduction: Standing electric scooters became widely popular and increasingly available as an inexpensive and easy mode of transportation in the United States in September 2017. Regulation and safety guidelines established by electric scooter companies and government agencies vary greatly, and serious injuries have subsequently followed the rise in use of these devices. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the incidence, severity, and outcome of orthopedic injuries related to standing electric scooter usage. Materials and Methods: This study is a case series of all patients sustaining injuries attributed to electric scooter usage requiring orthopedic consultation at George Washington University Hospital between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018. The main outcomes include the type and severity of these injuries, definitive treatment, and the estimated cost to the health system. Results: 10 patients were identified as sustaining injuries directly relating to electric scooter usage that required orthopedic consultation at GWUH between January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. Eight patients underwent operative fixation; three patients sustained upper extremity fractures and five sustained lower extremity fractures. Those injuries included two distal radii fractures, one humeral shaft fracture, one ankle fracture, one ankle fracture with dislocation, one tibial plateau fracture, and one tibia/fibular shaft fracture. Two patients were treated definitively without surgical treatment. Two patients were kept inpatient for their injuries and underwent fixation in the acute setting. Six patients were stabilized at the time of injury and discharged with scheduled follow up for outpatient surgical fixation. Two patients did not require surgical treatment and were treated definitively prior to discharge and follow up. Conclusion: Orthopedic injuries secondary to electric scooter usage are increasing in prevalence as the devices become more available and popular. The severity of orthopedic injuries varies from definitive care in the emergency department to requiring operative fixation and inpatient admission at the hospital. These findings may contribute to more standard regulation and safety guidelines for safe electric scooter usage.

Open Access

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Presented at Research Days 2019.

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Incidence of Fractures Requiring Orthopedic Operative Intervention Following Electric Scooter Injuries

Introduction: Standing electric scooters became widely popular and increasingly available as an inexpensive and easy mode of transportation in the United States in September 2017. Regulation and safety guidelines established by electric scooter companies and government agencies vary greatly, and serious injuries have subsequently followed the rise in use of these devices. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the incidence, severity, and outcome of orthopedic injuries related to standing electric scooter usage. Materials and Methods: This study is a case series of all patients sustaining injuries attributed to electric scooter usage requiring orthopedic consultation at George Washington University Hospital between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018. The main outcomes include the type and severity of these injuries, definitive treatment, and the estimated cost to the health system. Results: 10 patients were identified as sustaining injuries directly relating to electric scooter usage that required orthopedic consultation at GWUH between January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. Eight patients underwent operative fixation; three patients sustained upper extremity fractures and five sustained lower extremity fractures. Those injuries included two distal radii fractures, one humeral shaft fracture, one ankle fracture, one ankle fracture with dislocation, one tibial plateau fracture, and one tibia/fibular shaft fracture. Two patients were treated definitively without surgical treatment. Two patients were kept inpatient for their injuries and underwent fixation in the acute setting. Six patients were stabilized at the time of injury and discharged with scheduled follow up for outpatient surgical fixation. Two patients did not require surgical treatment and were treated definitively prior to discharge and follow up. Conclusion: Orthopedic injuries secondary to electric scooter usage are increasing in prevalence as the devices become more available and popular. The severity of orthopedic injuries varies from definitive care in the emergency department to requiring operative fixation and inpatient admission at the hospital. These findings may contribute to more standard regulation and safety guidelines for safe electric scooter usage.