Cody D Schlaff1, Kenneth D Sack2, Ross-Jordon Elliott2, Michael K Rosner2. 1. The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, The George Washington University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA. Electronic address: cody_schlaff90@gwu.edu. 2. The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, The George Washington University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: To decrease vehicular traffic in major metropolitan cities throughout the United States, multiple ridesharing companies have launched dockless electric scooters and bicycles throughout cities. From September 2017 through November 2018, Washington, DC, launched a 15-month dockless vehicle pilot program to allow for the rapid entry and growth of electric scooters within the metropolitan area. This rapid growth resulted in a number of minor and significant injuries. CASE DESCRIPTION: We reviewed the electronic medical record of The George Washington University Hospital to investigate and characterize the types of electric scooter-related injuries resulting in neurosurgical consultation in the 15-month period of the Washington, DC, scooter pilot program. Thirteen patients sustained injuries serious enough to merit neurosurgical consultation, including 1 patient whose symptoms required procedural intervention by a neurointerventional radiologist and another patient who was pronounced dead soon after arrival to the hospital. CONCLUSIONS: In this case series, we highlight more severe injuries that resulted in hospitalization or intervention, including skull fracture, central cord syndrome, and vertebral compression fracture. This case series aims to illustrate the potential severity of injuries related to electric scooters, raise awareness on the issues of safety and public health, and call for further investigation into injuries relating to electric scooters.
BACKGROUND: To decrease vehicular traffic in major metropolitan cities throughout the United States, multiple ridesharing companies have launched dockless electric scooters and bicycles throughout cities. From September 2017 through November 2018, Washington, DC, launched a 15-month dockless vehicle pilot program to allow for the rapid entry and growth of electric scooters within the metropolitan area. This rapid growth resulted in a number of minor and significant injuries. CASE DESCRIPTION: We reviewed the electronic medical record of The George Washington University Hospital to investigate and characterize the types of electric scooter-related injuries resulting in neurosurgical consultation in the 15-month period of the Washington, DC, scooter pilot program. Thirteen patients sustained injuries serious enough to merit neurosurgical consultation, including 1 patient whose symptoms required procedural intervention by a neurointerventional radiologist and another patient who was pronounced dead soon after arrival to the hospital. CONCLUSIONS: In this case series, we highlight more severe injuries that resulted in hospitalization or intervention, including skull fracture, central cord syndrome, and vertebral compression fracture. This case series aims to illustrate the potential severity of injuries related to electric scooters, raise awareness on the issues of safety and public health, and call for further investigation into injuries relating to electric scooters.
Authors: Eric H Tischler; Sung Huang Laurent Tsai; Adam J Wolfert; Nishant Suneja; Qais Naziri; Henry M Tischler Journal: J Clin Orthop Trauma Date: 2021-09-29
Authors: Frank Graef; Christian Doll; Marcel Niemann; Serafeim Tsitsilonis; Ulrich Stöckle; Karl F Braun; Jonas Wüster; Sven Märdian Journal: Clin Orthop Surg Date: 2021-07-28
Authors: Jeffrey Glenn; Madeline Bluth; Mannon Christianson; Jaymie Pressley; Austin Taylor; Gregory S Macfarlane; Robert A Chaney Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-08-31 Impact factor: 3.390