Artikel
Danger-scooter – the underestimated risk of severe electric scooter associated traumatic brain injury
Danger-scooter – das unterschätzte Risiko von schweren Elektroroller-assoziierten Schädelhirntraumata
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Autoren
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Anne-Kathrin Uerschels
- Universitätsklinikum Essen, Klinik für Neurochirurgie und Wirbelsäulenchirurgie, Essen, Deutschland
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Marvin Darkwah Oppong
- Universitätsklinikum Essen, Klinik für Neurochirurgie und Wirbelsäulenchirurgie, Essen, Deutschland
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Ramazan Jabbarli
- Universitätsklinikum Essen, Klinik für Neurochirurgie und Wirbelsäulenchirurgie, Essen, Deutschland
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Daniela Pierscianek
- Universitätsklinikum Essen, Klinik für Neurochirurgie und Wirbelsäulenchirurgie, Essen, Deutschland
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Heinz-Lothar Meyer
- University Hospital Essen, Clinic for Trauma Surgery and Orthopedics, Essen, Deutschland
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Oliver Gembruch
- Universitätsklinikum Essen, Klinik für Neurochirurgie und Wirbelsäulenchirurgie, Essen, Deutschland
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Ulrich Sure
- Universitätsklinikum Essen, Klinik für Neurochirurgie und Wirbelsäulenchirurgie, Essen, Deutschland
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Karsten Henning Wrede
- Universitätsklinikum Essen, Klinik für Neurochirurgie und Wirbelsäulenchirurgie, Essen, Deutschland
| Veröffentlicht: | 4. Juni 2021 |
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Gliederung
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Objective: Since the approval of electric scooters (e-scooters) for road use in Germany in 2019, they have become increasingly popular. In our experience, patients treated after e-scooter accidents often have particularly severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Aim of this observational study was characterization of frequency, injury patterns, severity, and outcome of e-scooter accidents as literature on this topic remains very limited.
Methods: We performed a retrospective observational analysis of all consecutive e-scooter accident associated TBI in our center between June 2019 and September 2020. Analysis included basic demographic data, use of helmets, ethanol blood levels, accident-mechanism, injury patterns, surgical treatment, and outcome.
Results: A total of 63 patients with e-scooter accidents were admitted in the observation period. Thirteen patients (12 male, 1 female, mean age 24, age range15-79y) suffered TBI of which 7 had a severe trauma requiring craniotomy/craniectomy. Additionally, 5 patients had craniofacial and midface injuries requiring interdisciplinary surgical treatment. None of the patients wore helmets and 3 had elevated blood ethanol levels on admission. Of the 7 patients with severe trauma, only 3 have recovered well (GOS 7), 2 suffer from hemiparesis and impairing psychomotor deficits (GOS 4), 1 has retained a complete unilateral paresis of the oculomotor nerve, and 1 remained in a state of minimal awareness (GOS 3). During the observation period, bicycle accidents were treated approximately 7-fold more often with a significantly lower proportion of severe TBI (n=7) requiring neurosurgical treatment.
Conclusion: E-scooter accidents seem to be disproportionately often associated with severe TBI and often have devastating consequences for those affected. The refusal of most users to wear helmets presumably contributes to the poor outcome after these accidents. In light of these alarming findings, the current legislation should be reconsidered.
