Katherine E. Douglas, MD, Alexander W. Hirsch, MD,
Andrew M. Fine, MD, MPH, and Todd W. Lyons, MD, MPH
Andrew M. Fine, MD, MPH, and Todd W. Lyons, MD, MPH
ABSTRACT: 
Objectives: Electronic scooters (e-scooters) are increasing in popularity. We sought to compare pediatric e-scooters to traditional
scooter injuries, analyze risk factors for non-home disposition, and
evaluate injury trends.
Methods: We performed a retrospective, cross-sectional study of
ED visits for scooter injuries from 2015 to 2024, utilizing the
National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, utilizing product
codes to identify mechanisms. We compared e-scooter to traditional scooter injuries, and home disposition to non-home disposition (resulting in hospitalization, transfer, or death), using
proportion differences and multivariable modeling adjusting for
age, sex, and injury characteristics. We described time trends in ED
visits for e-scooter injuries.
Results: We identified 18,254 (population estimate 502,324) ED
visits for scooter injuries, of which 3094 [population estimate
91,523 (18.2%)] were e-scooters. E-scooter injuries were more
common among males and in older children (age 12 to 18 y).
Compared with traditional scooter injuries, e-scooter injuries were
more likely to result in admission (adjusted OR: 1.73; 95% CI: 1.2-
2.42) and internal injuries (12.1% e-scooter, 9.0% traditional
scooter; P < 0.05). E-scooter injuries were associated with
increased odds of non-home disposition compared with traditional
scooters (adjusted OR: 2.99, 95% CI: 1.66, 5.41). Overall, e-scooter
injuries made up an increasing percentage of pediatric ED visits
over the study period (annualized OR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.17-1.28).
Conclusions: E-scooter injuries, compared with traditional scooter
injuries, are associated with more non-home disposition and specific injury patterns, and are increasing as a proportion of ED
injury visits over the past 10 years. These findings inform providers
and the public of risks associated with pediatric e-scooter use.
Key Words: e-scooter, electric scooter, micromobility devices,
traum
scooter injuries, analyze risk factors for non-home disposition, and
evaluate injury trends.
Methods: We performed a retrospective, cross-sectional study of
ED visits for scooter injuries from 2015 to 2024, utilizing the
National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, utilizing product
codes to identify mechanisms. We compared e-scooter to traditional scooter injuries, and home disposition to non-home disposition (resulting in hospitalization, transfer, or death), using
proportion differences and multivariable modeling adjusting for
age, sex, and injury characteristics. We described time trends in ED
visits for e-scooter injuries.
Results: We identified 18,254 (population estimate 502,324) ED
visits for scooter injuries, of which 3094 [population estimate
91,523 (18.2%)] were e-scooters. E-scooter injuries were more
common among males and in older children (age 12 to 18 y).
Compared with traditional scooter injuries, e-scooter injuries were
more likely to result in admission (adjusted OR: 1.73; 95% CI: 1.2-
2.42) and internal injuries (12.1% e-scooter, 9.0% traditional
scooter; P < 0.05). E-scooter injuries were associated with
increased odds of non-home disposition compared with traditional
scooters (adjusted OR: 2.99, 95% CI: 1.66, 5.41). Overall, e-scooter
injuries made up an increasing percentage of pediatric ED visits
over the study period (annualized OR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.17-1.28).
Conclusions: E-scooter injuries, compared with traditional scooter
injuries, are associated with more non-home disposition and specific injury patterns, and are increasing as a proportion of ED
injury visits over the past 10 years. These findings inform providers
and the public of risks associated with pediatric e-scooter use.
Key Words: e-scooter, electric scooter, micromobility devices,
traum
