Orthopedic Injuries Caused by Electric Scooters: A Systematic Review

Background: Orthopedic-related injuries are a significant proportion of electric scooter (e-scooter) injuries that present to hospitals. There is a lack of global regulatory consensus for e-scooter use.Aims: We aimed to synthesize existing data on orthopedic injuries due to e-scooters and identify modifiable risk factors that will help guide policymaking, reduce hospital burden, and aid clinicians in the management of these injuries.Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted to identify studies pertaining to e-scooter injuries. The U.S. National Library of Medicine (PubMed/MEDLINE), EMBASE, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were queried for publications from January 1980 to November 2022, utilizing keywords pertinent to electric scooter, orthopedic or musculoskeletal injuries, incidence, and prevalence.Results: In total, 30 studies met inclusion criteria. Among all riders, 5.5% were helmeted. Among those injured, 26.3% were intoxicated at the time of injury, 7.6% required inpatient admission, and 20.5% required surgery. The most common orthopedic injuries were to the distal extremities, with wrist fractures being the most reported upper extremity fractures (average 14.9%) and ankle fractures being the most reported lower extremity fractures (average 8.3%).Conclusions: Orthopedic injuries caused by using e-scooters are commonly encountered in the hospital setting. These injuries may continue to rise with the increased accessibility of e-scooters. Lawmakers should instill strict usage guidelines to help prevent injuries from e-scooter use.