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Electric scooter injuries in the pediatric population are increasing: an analysis of National injury trends and mechanisms between 2014 and 2023 #MMPMID41319315
Phys Sportsmed 2025[Nov]; ? (?): ? PMID41319315show ga
INTRODUCTION: The use of electric scooters (e-scooters) has surged over the past decade, leading to a notable rise in e-scooter related injuries presenting to emergency departments. This study aims to analyze trends and mechanisms of e-scooter injuries in the United States pediatric population. We hypothesized that there would be a significant increase in pediatric e-scooter injuries from 2014 to 2023, and particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2023, with many patients sustaining fractures. METHODS: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) was queried for pediatric (age =18) electric scooter injuries presenting to US emergency departments between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2023. Patient demographics, injury location, discharge disposition, and diagnosis were extracted. The mechanisms of injury were categorized based on the injury narrative. Injury trends were analyzed using linear regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 2,231 pediatric e-scooter injuries (NE = 63,527) were included. The mean age was 11.9 +/- 4.0 years old and 63.3% of patients were male. There was a statistically significant increase in pediatric e-scooter injuries from 2014 to 2023 (p = 0.002). Additionally, we identified a 2.4 fold increase in annual post-COVID (2021-2023) average injuries compared to pre-COVID (2014-2019). The most common diagnosis was fractures (NE = 18103, 28.5%). The most common body part injured was the head (NE = 11258, 17.7%). Collisions with other moving vehicles comprised 10.8% of all injuries (NE = 6840). The most common mechanisms of injury were falling off of the e-scooter (NE = 43889, 69.1%). Out of the 432 (19.4%) narratives that reported helmet usage, 72.6% indicated that the patient was not wearing a helmet. CONCLUSION: Pediatric e-scooter injuries have increased significantly in the past decade, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. As e-scooter usage continues to rise, these findings underscore the need for targeted safety measures to protect young riders from fractures and head injuries.