Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Research
  • Published:

E-scooter-related facial injuries: a one-year review following implementation of a citywide trial

British Dental Journal volume 234, pages 102–105 (2023)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective Birmingham City Council commenced electric scooter (e-scooter) trials in September 2020 as part of the wider UK effort to introduce e-scooters as an alternative method of transport. We aimed to review and evaluate maxillofacial injuries in the initial trial period of one year and comment on the safety implications.

Method The Queen Elizabeth Hospital is a Level 1 Major Trauma Centre and the hub for maxillofacial services in Birmingham, UK. A single-centre retrospective study captured patients who sustained e-scooter-related facial injuries in the Birmingham e-scooter trial period from September 2020 to September 2021.

Results A total of 29 patients were identified as having facial injuries. Of those patients: 59% (n = 17) were men and aged under 30; 43% (n = 18) of all injuries recorded involved hard tissue; and 41% (n = 12) were recorded to be under the influence of alcohol or cannabis. The non-use of helmets was recorded in 34% (n = 10) of patients. Additionally, 20 patients were managed operatively and 100% of patients (n = 12) that were under the influence of drugs or alcohol required operative management.

Conclusion With the introduction of these trials, it is shown that facial injuries represent a sizeable proportion of all injuries. E-scooters have significant safety issues. Our study may influence legislation to account for improvements in users' compliance with safety measures and enforcement of those using e-scooters illegally. Legislation regarding the future of e-scooters is expected in the coming year as outlined in the 2022 Queen's Speech.

Key points

  • The use of e-scooters can result in facial injuries, some significant, requiring operative intervention to the riders as well as road users.

  • Poor awareness of, and complance with, safety regulations can increase the number of facial injuries sustained.

  • Our study highlights that further attention is needed to regulate e-scooter devices to ensure safety for riders and other road users.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. NatWest. The rise of the e-scooter. 2020. Available at https://natwestbusinesshub.com/articles/the-rise-of-the-e-scooter (accessed November 2021).

  2. Transport for London. Electric scooters. 2020. Available at https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/electric-scooter-rental-trial (accessed November 2021).

  3. Bozzi A D, Aguilera A. Shared E-Scooters: A Review of Uses, Health and Environmental Impacts, and Policy Implications of a New Micro-Mobility Service. Sustainability 2021; 13: 8676.

  4. Tees Valley Combined Authority. UK's First Ever E-Scooter Trial Gets Rolling In The Tees Valley. 2020. Available at https://teesvalley-ca.gov.uk/uks-first-ever-e-scooter-trial-gets-rolling-in-the-tees-valley/ (accessed November 2021).

  5. UK Parliament. Regulating electric scooters (e-scooters). 2021. Available at https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8:958/ (accessed November 2021).

  6. Birmingham City Council. West Midlands E-scooter Trial Extension. 2021. Available at https://birmingham.cmis.uk.com/Birmingham/Document.ashx?czJKcaeAi5tUFL 1DTL2UE4zNRBcoShgo=jOeNm3JUICKrsSYwDg6BQ3j l9nW18s%2BiXBXwpVi007j4lm6pNBky3g%3D%3D&r UzwRPf%2BZ3zd4E7Ikn8Lyw%3D%3D=pwRE6AGJF LDNlh225F5QMaQWCtPHwdhUfCZ%2FLUQzgA2uL5jNR G4jdQ%3D%3D&mCTIbCubSFfXsDGW9IXnlg%3D%3D= hFflUdN3100%3D&kCx1AnS9%2FpWZQ40DXFvdEw%3D %3D=hFflUdN3100%3D&uJovDxwdjMPoYv%2BAJvY tyA%3D%3D=ctNJFf55vVA%3D&FgPlIEJYlotS%2BYG oBi5olA%3D%3D=NHdURQburHA%3D&d9Qjj0ag1Pd99 3jsyOJqFvmyB7X0CSQK=ctNJFf55vVA%3D&WGewm oAfeNR9xqBux0r1Q8Za60lavYmz=ctNJFf55vVA%3D &WGewmoAfeNQ16B2MHuCpMRKZMwaG1PaO= ctNJFf55vVA%3D (accessed November 2021).

  7. Sikka N, Vila C, Stratton M, Ghassemi M, Pourmand A. Sharing the sidewalk: A case of E-scooter related pedestrian injury. Am J Emerg Med 2019; 37: 1807.

  8. Cruz N D, Morgan C, Morgan R V et al. Injury patterns of e-scooter-related orthopaedic trauma in central London: a multicentre study. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2022; 104: 187-194.

  9. Kappagantu A, Yaremchuk K, Tam S. Head and Neck Injuries and Electronic Scooter Use in the United States. Laryngoscope 2021; DOI: 10.1002/lary.29620.

  10. Wüster J, Voß J, Koerdt S et al. Impact of the Rising Number of Rentable E-scooter Accidents on Emergency Care in Berlin 6 Months After the Introduction: A Maxillofacial Perspective. Craniomaxillofac Trauma Reconstr 2020; 14: 43-48.

  11. Trivedi B, Kesterke M, Bhattacharjee R, Weber W, Mynar K, Reddy L V. Craniofacial Injuries Seen With the Introduction of Bicycle-Share Electric Scooters in an Urban Setting. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2019; 77: 2292-2297.

  12. Harbrecht A, Hackl M, Leschinger T et al. What to expect? Injury patterns of Electric-Scooter accidents over a period of one year - A prospective monocentric study at a Level 1 Trauma Centre. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 2022; 32: 641-647.

  13. Kleinertz H, Ntalos D, Hennes F, Nüchtern J V, Frosch K-H, Thiesen D M. Accident Mechanisms and Injury Patterns in E-Scooter Users - A Retrospective Analysis and Comparison With Cyclists. Dtsch Arztebl Int 2021; 118: 117-121.

  14. Alwani M, Jones A, Sandelski M et al. Facing Facts: Facial Injuries from Stand-up Electric Scooters. Cureus 2020; DOI: 10.7759/cureus.6663.

  15. Kim W C, Campbell A R. Common Injury Patterns from Standing Motorized Scooter Crashes. Curr Surg Rep 2021; 9: 8.

  16. Smit R B, Graham D O, Erasmus J. E-scooter injuries referred to the oral and maxillofacial surgical service at Christchurch Hospital: a retrospective observational study and cost analysis of 17-months of data. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2021; 59: 439-444.

  17. Mitchell G, Tsao H, Randell T, Marks J, Mackay P. Impact of electric scooters to a tertiary emergency department: 8-week review after implementation of a scooter share scheme. Emerg Med Australas 2019; 31: 930-934.

  18. Uluk D, Lindner T, Dahne M et al. E-scooter incidents in Berlin: an evaluation of risk factors and injury patterns. Emerg Med J 2022; 39: 295-300.

  19. Royal National Institute of Blind People. Highlighting the e-scooter challenge to safety on our streets. 2020. Available at https://www.rnib.org.uk/news/campaigning/e-scooter-challenge-streets-safety (accessed November 2021).

  20. BBC News. Bristol: E-scooter injuries 'costing NHS £1k per patient'. BBC News (London) 2021 December 2.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Junior Specialist Dentist in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham, B15 2GW, UK

    Rajeevan Sritharan

  2. Speciality Registrar in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham, B15 2GW, UK

    Christopher Blore

  3. Dental Core Trainee in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham, B15 2GW, UK

    Richa Arya

  4. Consultant in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham, B15 2GW, UK

    Kevin McMillan

Authors
  1. Rajeevan Sritharan
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Christopher Blore
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Richa Arya
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kevin McMillan
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Rajeevan Sritharan: conception of the idea, data collection and analysis. Christopher Blore: drafting of the article. Richa Arya: conception of the idea, drafting of the article, final approval. Kevin McMillan: analysis, critical revision, final approval and guarantor of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rajeevan Sritharan.

Ethics declarations

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare and no funding to declare.

The project was registered with Clinical Audit and Research Management System and an ID was generated which allowed for data collection. All patient data is anonymised and non-identifiable. Formal ethical approval was not required as this was a retrospective cohort study.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sritharan, R., Blore, C., Arya, R. et al. E-scooter-related facial injuries: a one-year review following implementation of a citywide trial. Br Dent J 234, 102–105 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-023-5459-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Version of record:

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-023-5459-8

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links