VCOM Research Day Program Book 2023

Medical Resident Research Cl inical

04 Prevalence of Electric Scooter Injuries in Athletes at an NCAA Division I University: A Retrospective Review

Mohamed Shitia, DO; Annemarie Beran, OMS III; Rachael Larkin, OMS I; Mike Goforth, ATC; Mark Rogers, DO; Per Gunnar Brolinson, DO Corresponding author: mshitia01@vt.vcom.edu

Virginia Tech, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine-Virginia Campus

injury between January 2020 and December 2022. Data gathered included each athlete’s sport, sex, date of injury, type and mechanism of injury, number of days lost from competition, location of injury, and helmet use or non-use. Results: A total of 22 electric scooter injuries were identified between 2020 and 2022, indicating a prevalence of 0.01% during this three-year period. Accident rates of 0.15, 1.35, and 1.82 per 100 athlete years were calculated for 2020, 2021, and 2022, respectively. Of note, there was significant underreporting of injury in 2020 due to a temporary closure of campus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Skin abrasion was by far the most common injury type, followed by bone contusion, tooth/lip injury, joint sprain, concussion, finger laceration, upper extremity fracture, and clavicle fracture, respectively. Six of 22 injured athletes (27.3%) lost time from competition due to injury. The average time lost in these six athletes was about 30.3 days, with a median of 20.5 days. Interestingly, 100% of injuries occurred on-campus and without the use of a helmet. Two athletes (9.1%) sustained a repeat electric scooter

injury and four athletes (18.2%) sustained injuries with two people riding a single scooter. Conclusion: Electric scooters continue to be a potential source of high-energy injuries in college athletes. Depending on the severity, injuries may leave athletes vulnerable to missing significant time from competition. As their use continues to grow, the prevalence of injuries will likely increase as well. Future research is necessary to better characterize electric scooter use trends with the goal of addressing rider safety, both in the general and college athletic population.

Introduction: Electric scooters are a rapidly growing means of convenient, short-distance transportation, particularly in metropolitan areas and college campuses. However, this emerging trend brings with it significant safety concerns. Between 2010 and 2019, there was an estimated 230% increase in scooter-related injury incidence. A review of the existing literature yields basic information regarding injury patterns of those in electric scooter accidents, primarily in the general population. However, there is sparse research evaluating scooter use and associated injury prevalence in college athletes, a significant user population of electric scooters. The primary objective of this study is to quantify the prevalence of electric scooter injuries in student athletes at an NCAA Division I university. Additionally, we aim to characterize the frequency of different types of injuries sustained and quantify the average amount of time lost from competition due to injury. Methods: A retrospective chart review utilizing two electronic medical records at an NCAA Division I university was performed with the goal of identifying student athletes who sustained an electric scooter

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