E-scooters have emerged as an environmentally friendly mode of inner-city transportation,1 and e-scooter-associated injuries are a growing area of concern.2 In the UK, rental e-scooter trial schemes were introduced in 2020; alongside these trials, illegal private e-scooter use in public spaces has also increased.3 There is little UK data outlining the healthcare impact of e-scooters, although work has examined the impact in Europe.4

The primary objective was to quantify the prevalence and nature of injuries sustained by individuals involved in accidents associated with e-scooters across multiple cities. Secondary objectives were to determine the nature of injuries by e-scooter type (rental or private); delineate the impact of rental schemes in terms of overall ED attendances; and report rates of helmet wearing, substance misuse and costs related to e-scooter presentations.

Between 13 September and 19 November 2021, twenty sites (10 adult major trauma centres (MTC) (7 with colocated paediatric MTCs) and 10 city-centre trauma units) collected data over a 4-week period. ED patients presenting with an injury associated with an e-scooter accident (drivers, passengers and bystanders) were prospectively identified by ED clinicians 24/7.

A total of 250 patients were enrolled, with median age 26 (IQR 20–46); 67% were male (table 1). Injuries were predominantly among those driving e-scooters (n=231, 92.8%), with 10 pedestrians (4.0%), 5 e-scooter passengers (2.0%) and 2 cyclists (0.8%) injured colliding with an e-scooter. Rental e-scooters were ridden in 94 …