A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Alcohol intoxication and lack of helmet use are common in electric scooter-related traumatic brain injuries: a consecutive patient series from a tertiary university hospital




AuthorsSuominen Eetu N., Sajanti Antti J., Silver Eero A., Koivunen Veerakaisa, Bondfolk Anton S., Koskimäki Janne, Saarinen Antti J.

PublisherSPRINGER WIEN

Publishing placeWien

Publication year2022

JournalActa Neurochirurgica

Journal acronymActa Neurochir

Volume164

Issue3

First page 643

Last page653

Number of pages9

eISSN0942-0940

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-021-05098-2

Web address https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00701-021-05098-2

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/174916150


Abstract

Purpose: Clinicians have increasingly encountered traumatic brain injuries (TBI) related to electric scooter (ES) accidents. In this study, we aim to identify the modifiable risk factors for ES-related TBIs.

Methods: A retrospective cohort of consecutive patients treated for ES-related traumatic brain injuries in a tertiary university hospital between May 2019 and September 2021 was identified and employed for the study. The characteristics of the accidents along with the clinical and imaging findings of the injuries were collected from the patient charts.

Results: During the study period, 104 TBIs related to ES accidents were identified. There was a high occurrence of accidents late at night and on Saturdays. In four cases, the patient’s helmet use was mentioned (3.8%). Seventy-four patients (71%) were intoxicated. At the scene of the accident, seventy-seven (74%) of the patients had a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 13–15, three patients (3%) had a score of 9–12, and two patients (2%) had a score of 3–8. The majority (83%) of TBIs were diagnosed as concussions. Eighteen patients had evidence of intracranial injuries in the imagining. Two patients required neurosurgical procedures. The estimated population standardized incidence increased from 7.0/100,000 (95% CI 3.5–11/100,000) in 2019 to 27/100,000 (95% CI 20–34/100,000) in 2021.

Conclusions: Alcohol intoxication and the lack of a helmet were common in TBIs caused by ES accidents. Most of the accidents occurred late at night. Targeting these modifiable factors could decrease the incidence of ES-related TBIs.


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Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 14:13