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RACS ASC 2024

*5-year retrospective audit on electronic scooter trauma presentations in a major metropolitan hospital in Brisbane Queensland: Is being green worth your spleen?

Verbal Presentation

Verbal Presentation

4:50 pm

09 May 2024

Conway 2

RESEARCH PAPERS

Disciplines

Trauma Surgery

Presentation Description

Institution: Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital - Queensland, Australia

Introduction: Electric scooter (e-scooter) use is promoted as an environmentally friendly mode of transportation, and is rapidly increasing around the world. In 2018, Brisbane was the first Australian city to introduce an e-scooter sharing scheme. This study reviews the patterns of injury of e-scooter trauma. Methods: A retrospective study of electronic scooter trauma that presented to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in the study period (Nov 2018 - Jan 2023) was conducted. Data recorded included basic patient demographics, event details, substance use, and helmet use. Injuries identified, interventions performed and complication rate post interventions were documented and subgroup analysis performed. Results: 429 patients (96 female, 333 male) identified in the selected data period. The majority of patients were in the age group of 25-34. Alcohol use was recorded in 29.1% and helmet use was documented in 47.8% of presentations. Helmets were protective against any head injury with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.3 (p <0.001). The protective effect for significant head injury requiring intervention did not reach significance, OR 1.2 (p=0.82). Half (48%) of patients presented after hours (between 7pm and 7am). 33% of incidences occurred above the legal speed limit (25km/hr). There were 768 injuries identified across the 429 patients and 84 patients (19.6%) required surgical intervention. Conclusion: E-scooter is an increasingly popular mode of transportation but is not without its risks. Emerging e-scooter trauma places a significant burden been placed on the health system.

Speakers

Authors

Authors

Dr Madeleine Kelly - , Dr Bethany Matthews - , Dr Grace Kwok - , Dr Carl Lisec - , Dr Daniel Chan -