WASHINGTON — E-scooter trauma admissions nearly doubled from 2021 to 2023, and nearly two-thirds of injured riders under 16 sustained major injuries, according to two national analyses.
The studies will be presented at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2026 in Washington, Sept. 26-29, where thousands of surgeons will convene to advance surgical quality, patient safety, and access to care.
Together, the studies provide a national look at the growing burden of e-scooter injuries and the factors that may influence their severity. The findings arrive against an uneven policy backdrop: e-scooter age limits, speed restrictions, and helmet requirements vary by state and locality.
E-Scooter Trauma Admissions Nearly Double
E-scooter trauma admissions increased 92% from 2021 to 2023, and helmet use was documented in only a small proportion of cases, according to a national analysis of more than 10,000 trauma admissions.
Researchers from Howard University Hospital in Washington analyzed national trauma data from 2021-2023, the first years a standardized diagnostic code was available to track e-scooter injuries. Among 10,151 e-scooter trauma admissions:
Admissions increased from 2,311 in 2021 to 4,430 in 2023, a 92% increase. E-scooter cases also increased from 0.19% to 0.34% of all trauma admissions in the database.
Helmet use was documented in only 12.1% of admissions.
Although most injuries were considered minor or moderate (85%), 16.2% of patients required ICU admission and 11.3% underwent an operation.
Most patients were male (72.4%) and between the ages of 18 and 64 (72.5%).
After adjusting for other factors, patients younger than 18 or 65 and older, those with a rapid heart rate, and those presenting with moderate or severe impairment in consciousness based on the Glasgow Coma Scale had higher odds of ICU admission. Helmet use and obesity were associated with lower odds of ICU admission.
“It’s important to recognize that e-scooters are not innocuous vehicles; there is danger to them,” said Quyen D. Chu, MD, MBA, FACS, a professor of surgery at Howard University Hospital and senior author of the study. “We need to counsel patients that when they ride these vehicles, they should slow down, obey traffic rules, and wear helmets. Injuries can lead to serious consequences, including a greater than 10% chance of needing an operation.”
The authors said future research should examine injury patterns and helmet use more closely, including potential differences across communities.
“We may just be seeing the tip of the iceberg when it comes to understanding trauma related to e-bikes and e-scooters,” said Edward E. Cornwell III, MD, FACS, FCCM, a professor of surgery at Howard University College of Medicine and co-author of the study. “Although this was a national study, injury patterns may differ in urban, suburban, and rural settings. We need to understand this better to prevent more injuries and actively plan for treating these injuries in the trauma bay.”
Younger Riders Injured More Severely
In a separate study, younger age was associated with more severe e-scooter injuries among children and adolescents, even though older riders reported traveling at higher speeds, according to research led by a team at Mass General Brigham for Children in Boston.
Researchers analyzed e-scooter injuries among patients 18 and younger using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, examining whether age and reported speed were associated with injury severity. Among 2,185 patients:
The average age was 12.8 years, and nearly three-quarters of patients were between the ages of 6 and 15.
Patients under 16 sustained major injuries at a significantly higher rate than patients older than 16: 65.6% compared with 53.7%.
After adjusting for other factors, older age was associated with three times the odds of sustaining a minor injury and 58% lower odds of sustaining a major injury.
Older patients reported traveling at higher average speeds than younger patients (20.3 mph vs. 17.6 mph), suggesting younger age was associated with greater injury severity despite lower reported speeds.
“A child’s body is still developing, and that—more than the speed of the scooter—is what seems to determine how badly they get hurt,” said Cornelia L. Griggs, MD, MPH, FACS, a pediatric surgeon and surgical critical care specialist at Mass General Brigham for Children, and senior author of the study.
“An e-scooter is not a toy. We know they’re convenient and many families enjoy them, but a child can get hurt far worse on one than on a regular bike,” she added.
Co-authors of the national study on e-scooter trauma admissions are Siobhan Nnorom, MD; Nathan B. Lam, BS, MS; Lerone A. Ainsworth, MBBS; Marco Ayad, MD; Valentine Nofong, MBChB; Oluwasegun A. Akinyemi, MD, MSc, PhD; Alexander Evans, MD, MBA, FACS; and Kakra Hughes, MD, PhD, FACS. The authors do not report any relevant disclosures.
Co-authors of the study on e-scooter injury severity and age are Fiona Beltran, MD; Ikem Nzenwa, MBCHB, MSc; Reagan Collins, MD; and Matthew P. Shaughnessy, MD, MHS. The authors do not report any relevant disclosures.
Citations:
Nnorom S, et al. National Trauma Burden of Electric Scooter Injuries Since Standardized ICD-10 Coding. Scientific Forum, American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2026.
Beltran F, et al. Severity of Electric Scooter Injury Is Disproportionately Associated with Younger Age. Scientific Forum, American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2026.
Note: Research abstracts presented at the ACS Clinical Congress Scientific Forum are reviewed and selected by a program committee but are not yet peer reviewed.
