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RACS ASC 2025
Breaking bones and the rules: An Audit of Paediatric E-scooter Trauma in Regional Australia
Verbal Presentation
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Verbal Presentation

1:30 pm

04 May 2025

Meeting Room C4.2

Research Papers

Disciplines

Trauma Surgery

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Presentation Description

Institution: Sunshine Coast University Hospital - QLD, Australia

Background: The use of electric scooters (e-scooters) has steadily increased in recent years, with a parallel rise in popularity among paediatric users. This study aims to determine the incidence of e-scooter accidents, injury severity, and radiation exposure associated with e-scooter use among paediatric patients on the Sunshine Coast, Australia. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using hospital and registry data from January 2023 to December 2023 for presentations under the age of 16 years. Data collected included demographic details, accident mechanisms, Paediatric Trauma Severity Scores (PTSS), imaging studies performed, and self-reported speed at the time of the incident. Results: During the study period, 82 presentations with e-scooter-related trauma. The majority were male (77%), with ages ranging from 6 to 15 years and a median age of 14 years. Notably, 53 patients were aged 14 or 15, accounting for 10.9% of all ED presentations in this age group during 2023. The median Paediatric Trauma Score was 11, indicating a minor injury; however, 13 presentations (15%) were classified as either life-threatening or potentially life-threatening. Radiology was required in 84% of presentations, with 18% of cases involving CT imaging. The primary mechanism of injury was a fall from the e-scooter (79%). Conclusion: Paediatric e-scooter trauma, as observed in presentations to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, is associated with a substantial number of injuries, predominantly among young males, and results in significant radiation exposure from diagnostic imaging. These findings highlight an urgent need for greater awareness of e-scooter regulations within the paediatric population.
Presenters
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Authors

Dr Matthew Clanfield - , Dr Isabelle Sharman - , Dr Andrew Hobbins-King -