Article Text
Abstract
Background The use of personal electric vehicles in the United States has increased head and neck injuries. This study analyses the types, frequencies, demographics and management of these injuries across motorised vehicles.
Methods This study uses 2020–2023 data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System to analyse injuries from various powered vehicles, incorporating diagnostic, event-related and demographic factors. In addition, the study evaluates non-powered skateboard-related injuries, which provided a comparable baseline for motorised vehicle injuries.
Results Our analysis included 3721 head and neck injuries: 1359 from scooters, 1743 from skateboards and 619 from hoverboards. Males sustained most injuries, accounting for 64% of scooter accidents, 74% of skateboard accidents and 58% of hoverboard accidents. Hospitalisation was required in 10% of scooter accidents, 9.2% of skateboard accidents and 6.9% of hoverboard accidents. Males, alcohol use and drug use were associated with increased risk of hospitalisation (p=0.00002, p=0.00004 and p<0.00001, respectively). Internal injury (37%) and lacerations (24%) were the most common types of injury. In cases, wear helmets were worn involving helmets, there were no significant differences in hospitalisation rates.
Discussion These findings underscore the need for improved injury prevention strategies, including more effective helmet designs and infrastructure enhancements, to reduce the growing burden of micromobility vehicle-related head and neck injuries.
Conclusion The rising incidence of head and neck injuries associated with personal mobility vehicles highlights the need for injury management and prevention strategies. Helmets may mitigate head and neck injuries associated with motorised scooters, skateboards and hoverboards.
- Concussion
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Advocacy
- Education
- Helmet
Data availability statement
Data are available in a public, open access repository. All data is available online.
Statistics from Altmetric.com
Data availability statement
Data are available in a public, open access repository. All data is available online.
Footnotes
Contributors SE (guarantor): Conception and design of the study. SE, SR and JS: Analysis and interpretation of data; drafting and revising the manuscript critically for important intellectual content; final approval of the version to be published; and agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work. NJW, SG and AMI: Drafting and revising the manuscript critically for important intellectual content; final approval of the version to be published; and agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient and public involvement Patients and/or the public were not involved in the design, or conduct, or reporting, or dissemination plans of this research.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.