Craniofacial Injuries Associated With Micromobility Vehicles: A Retrospective Analysis Using the NEISS Database (2014–2023)

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

This retrospective analysis examines craniofacial injuries resulting from micromobility vehicle use based on National Electronic Injury Surveillance System data from 2014 to 2023. The study analyzed injury patterns from electric scooters, hoverboards, and e-bikes across ~100 US hospital emergency departments. Among 308,068 recorded craniofacial injuries, a significant gender disparity emerged with males comprising 69.4% of cases versus 30.6% for females. Injury rates peaked in males aged 20 to 29 and females aged 0 to 9. Males experienced injuries at 2.4 times the female rate. Powered and unspecified scooters accounted for ~80% of all injuries. Powered scooters are associated with higher hospital admission rates (12.89%). Anatomically, the head (47.21%) and face (37.99%) were most frequently injured. Internal organ injuries represented the predominant diagnosis, followed by lacerations and contusions. These findings highlight the vulnerability of craniofacial regions during micromobility accidents and demonstrate concerning gender-based risk patterns. Results can inform targeted public health interventions, emergency care protocols, and policy development to enhance user safety, particularly through increased helmet usage promotion and improved regulatory frameworks.