• Deniz Uluk, Tobias Lindner, Michael Dahne, Jens Werner Bickelmayer, Kassandra Beyer, Anna Slagman, Friedrich Jahn, Christian Willy, Martin Möckel, and Undine A Gerlach.
• Department of Emergency Medicine, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany deniz.uluk@charite.de.
• Emerg Med J. 2022 Apr 1; 39 (4): 295-300.

BackgroundE-scooters have emerged as a frequently used vehicle in German cities due to their high availability and easy access. However, investigations about the causes and mechanisms of E-scooter incidents and their trauma-specific consequences are rare.MethodsWe analysed all patients involved in E-scooter incidents from June to December 2019 who presented to four inner-city EDs in Berlin. The prospective data included patient-related and incident-related data, information on injury patterns and therapy, responses in a voluntary questionnaire concerning E-scooter use and general traffic experience.Results248 patients (129 males; median age 29 years (5-81)) were included: 41% were tourists and 4% were children. Most incidents (71%) occurred between July and September 2019, the majority occurring at weekends (58%). The injury pattern was mostly multifocal, affecting the lower (42%) and upper limbs (37%) and the head (40%). Traumatic brain injury was associated with alcohol consumption. Inpatient admission was recorded in 25%, surgery in 23%.ConclusionThis study has defined the incidence of injury related to E-scooter use in a major European city. Stricter laws governing the use of E-scooters, the wearing of helmets and technical modifications to the E-scooter platforms might decrease E-scooter-associated incidents and resulting injuries in the future.Trial Registration NumberGerman Clinical Trials Registry (DRKS00018061).© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

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