The Melbourne E-Scooter Trial – how safe are they wheelie?
Emily Cross1, Thomas Treseder1, Kirsty Gibb1, Lachlan Shepherd1, Bernarda Cavka1, Andrew Bucknill1,2 1The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia2Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Abstract
Background: E-scooter use for transport in major cities is increasing, their safety is the subject of media scrutiny. In 2022 the Victorian Government commenced a trial evaluating this. This single site retrospective data audit aimed to determine the number and nature of e-scooter related injuries referred from The Royal Melbourne Hospital emergency department (ED) to the orthopaedic unit over 12 months.
Method: Data was extracted from existing hospital databases between 01/02/22 and 01/02/23. Dates were selected to align with the Melbourne e-scooter trial. Referrals of interest were to the orthopaedic unit and contained the key word ’e-scooter.’ Patient files were reviewed manually to extract injury type, management and duration of care.
Results: Public records reported 2,712,300 rides on shared e-scooters during the audit period. The unit received >8000 referrals from ED. Ninety-three documented e-scooter use. Average age was 31 years (range 15-72), 78 (84%) were male. Eighty-eight (95%) patients were e-scooter riders, five (5%) were pedestrians. Rider helmet use was confirmed in 14 cases documented ‘not worn’ in 11 cases and not specified in the remaining 63. The most common injuries were: isolated upper limb fracture (n=37), isolated lower limb fracture (n=16); and soft tissue injury (n=13). Other injury categories were: multi trauma (n=11); joint (n=6); spine (n=5); and fracture-dislocation (n=5). The most common management was outpatient clinic (n=38); surgery (n=32) and virtual fracture clinic (n=16).
Conclusion: E-scooter-related injuries were a low proportion of all referrals to the unit. Surgical management was required in more than one third of cases.
Biography
Emily Cross is an Advanced Practice Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist and Virtual Fracture Clinic Coordinator at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Emily holds a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (La Trobe University, 2005) and finished top of her class in her Master of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy (La Trobe University, 2012). Through her membership on the MPA Vic Branch committee she has been heavily involved in the organisation and delivery of professional development in Victoria since 2011. She was a clinical supervisor for the University of Melbourne’s Master of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy program and is dedicated to facilitating professional development and education for the advancement of the profession.