The study, conducted by doctors at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown (CHB) in Dublin, found fewer than one in 10 e-scooter users hospitalized after falls or collisions wore helmets.

The research reveals a nearly fourfold increase in e-scooter-related injuries at CHB since 2020. Between June 2019 and July 2020, 22 individuals sought treatment for e-scooter injuries, a figure that rose to 76 during a comparable period ending in July 2024. Alarmingly, helmet usage among injured patients dropped from 40% to 8%.

Key findings include that 24% of injured patients required hospital admission, with an average stay of 4.2 days, and 17% required surgery.

Fractures and dislocations accounted for 45% of injuries, most affecting the upper limbs, followed by lower limbs, head, and neck. Of these, 40% involved complex, comminuted fractures, leading to potential long-term complications such as post-traumatic arthritis and functional impairments. Severe cases included one patient with a subdural brain haemorrhage and another who underwent three surgeries.

The study also found that 44% of cases required referral to orthopaedic services, and only 25% of patients were discharged directly from the emergency department. Three-quarters of those injured were male, with an average age of 31 years, and two-thirds were aged 18-35. Additionally, over 40% of injured individuals were non-Irish nationals.

Published in the Irish Journal of Medical Research, the study attributes the surge in injuries to the growing popularity of e-scooters due to their accessibility and affordability. E-scooter usage was legalized in Ireland in May 2024 for individuals aged 16 and older, with speed limits capped at 20 km/h, although some injured patients were traveling at speeds exceeding 30 km/h.

Dr. Aoife O’Halloran, an orthopaedic surgery registrar and study co-author, emphasized the increasing reliance on e-scooters, particularly among non-Irish nationals, as a cost-effective mode of transport. She warned that the rise in e-scooter use correlates directly with a surge in injuries. The study also highlighted the high demand for radiographic imaging, with 78% of patients requiring X-rays and 29% needing CT scans, which increases both radiation exposure and healthcare costs.

Dr. O’Halloran criticized the lack of mandatory helmet laws, noting that head and facial injuries accounted for 13% of cases. She called for legislation to enforce helmet use to mitigate the risks. She also highlighted global safety concerns, pointing out that cities like Paris, Melbourne, and Madrid are suspending or banning shared e-scooter schemes due to rising accidents.

“Addressing safety concerns and regulating e-scooter rentals must be prioritized to prevent further injuries and fatalities,” Dr. O’Halloran stated.