Head, face and neck injury patterns for electric scooter accidents identified on computed tomography scanning: Does legislative change enforcing safer riding practices have an impact on morbidity for significant head, face and neck trauma?

Introduction

The purpose of this study is to review whether legislative change enforcing safer riding conditions for Electric Scooters (E-Scooter), regardless of other factors, had an impact on reducing significant head, facial and neck trauma. Additionally, to identify the radiological injury patterns for head, face and neck injuries identified on CT imaging for a patient's initial presentation to the emergency department (ED) resulting from an E-Scooter accident.

Methods

A retrospective single-centre observational study at a metropolitan tertiary ED of patients presenting after an E-Scooter accident comparing 6 months before and after legislative change.

Results

Four hundred and forty-three patients presented following an E-Scooter accident: 191 patients 6 months before and 252 patients 6 months after legislative change. One hundred and sixty-two patients pre- and 217 patients post-legislative change had negative CT studies. Twenty-nine patients pre- and 35 patients post-legislative change had CT studies demonstrating significant head, face or neck trauma. The most common type of intracranial bleeding was subarachnoid haemorrhage followed by subdural haemorrhage with a significant proportion (41%) presenting with multi-factorial intracranial bleeding. There was no specific injury pattern involving the cranial vault or cervical spine. Of the patients presenting with a significant injury, facial bones were the most common injury site (84% (n = 54)). The most common site of facial fractures was the nasal bones followed by dental trauma and maxillary fractures.

Conclusion

This single-centre, retrospective observational study has shown no reduction in serious head, neck and facial injuries. Large-scale, multicentre studies will need to be undertaken to understand the true impact of legislative change.