Alcohol intoxication and lack of helmet use are common in electric scooter-related traumatic brain injuries: a consecutive patient series from a tertiary university hospital - Report - MDSpire
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Alcohol intoxication and lack of helmet use are common in electric scooter-related traumatic brain injuries: a consecutive patient series from a tertiary university hospital
Prevalence of Alcohol Use and Helmet Absence in ES-Related Traumatic Brain Injuries
Overview
This study analyzed 104 cases of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) related to electric scooter (ES) accidents treated at a tertiary hospital in Turku, Finland. Findings revealed a high prevalence of injuries among young adults, low helmet usage, frequent alcohol intoxication, and a majority of accidents occurring late at night and on weekends.
Background
Electric scooters have rapidly gained popularity as a micro-mobility option worldwide since their introduction in 2017. Despite legal requirements for helmet use and prohibitions against intoxicated driving, enforcement remains weak. Previous reports indicate that head injuries constitute 15-40% of ES-related injuries, but detailed data on ES-related TBIs remain limited. Understanding injury patterns and risk factors is essential for informing public safety policies and healthcare resource allocation.
Data Highlights
Characteristic
Value
Total patients analyzed
104
Median age (range)
23.7 years (5–71)
Male patients
61%
Young adults (18–25 years)
49%
Highest prevalence age group (20–25 years)
215/100,000
European age-standardized rate (EASR)
44/100,000 (95% CI 35–53)
EASR males
57/100,000 (95% CI 42–72)
EASR females
32/100,000 (95% CI 21–42)
EASR increase from 2019 to 2021
7.0 to 27/100,000
Accidents between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
81%
Accidents on Saturdays
29.8%
Accidents on Thursdays
19.2%
Accidents during summer months
82%
Key Findings
Majority of ES-related TBIs occurred in young adults aged 18–25 years, with a median age of 23.7 years.
Male patients represented 61% of the cases, with higher injury prevalence compared to females.
Helmet use was low despite legal requirements, contributing to injury severity.
Alcohol intoxication was frequently involved in accidents, especially during late-night hours.
81% of accidents occurred between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., with peaks on Saturdays and Thursdays.
There was a notable increase in injury incidence from 2019 to 2021, paralleling ES usage growth.
Clinical Implications
Clinicians should be aware of the high risk of ES-related TBIs among young adults, particularly males, and the association with alcohol use and lack of helmet protection. Emergency departments may expect increased presentations during weekend nights and summer months. These findings support the need for enhanced public education on helmet use and stricter enforcement of intoxication laws to reduce injury burden.
Conclusion
Electric scooter-related traumatic brain injuries predominantly affect young adults, often involve alcohol intoxication, and occur mostly at night without helmet use. Targeted preventive measures and policy enforcement are critical to mitigate these injuries and their impact on healthcare systems.
References
Study Authors/Institution/2024 -- Prevalence of Alcohol Use and Absence of Helmets in Traumatic Brain Injuries Associated with Electric Scooter Accidents
