TL;DR…skip to Results

Increased injury severity and hospitalization rates following crashes with
e-bikes versus conventional bicycles: an observational cohort study from a
regional level II trauma center in Switzerland

Background
As electric bicycles (e-bikes) become increasingly popular, reports of
injuries associated with e-bike usage are also rising. Patterns,
characteristics, and severity of injuries following e-bike crashes need
further investigation, particularly in contrast to injuries from
conventional bicycle crashes.

Methods
This prospective observational study included 82 patients treated at a
Level II trauma center for injuries resulting from an electric or
conventional bicycle crash. Data were collected over one year
(05.09.2017–19.09.2018) during in- and outpatient visits. A study-specific
case report form was used to identify the bicycle type, cycling behavior
(e.g., use of a helmet, safety gear, alcohol), and circumstances of the
crash (e.g., road conditions, speed, cause of the incident, time of day,
season). Additional information about patient demographics, treatment, and
injury characteristics, such as the Injury Severity Score (ISS) and body
region injured, were documented. Results were analyzed using chi-square,
Fisher’s exact, or Wilcoxon tests. Simple logistic or linear regression
models were used to estimate associations.

Results
Of the 82 patients, 56 (67%) were riding a conventional bike and 27 (33%)
were using an e-bike. Most incidents were either single-bicycle crashes
(66%) or automobile collisions (26%), with no notable difference in
prevalence rates between groups. Although a higher proportion of
conventional bikers were male (67% vs. 48%), the difference was not
significant. E-bikers were older (median 60 years (IQR 44–70) vs. 45 years
(IQR 32–62); p = 0.008), were hospitalized more often (48% vs. 24%,
p = 0.025), and had worse ISS (median 3 (IQR 2–4) vs. 1 (IQR 1–3),
p < 0.001), respectively. Body regions most affected were the extremities
(78%) and external/skin (46%), and these were distributed similarly in both
groups. Concomitant injury patterns of the thorax/chest with external/skin
were higher among e-bikers (p < 0.001). When we controlled for the
difference in the median age of the two groups, only the injury severity
score of e-bikers remained significantly worse.

Conclusions
Hospitalization and chest trauma rates were higher among e-bikers. After
controlling for the older age of this group, the severity of their injuries
remained worse than in conventional cyclists. Initial clinical assessments
at trauma units should include an evaluation of the thorax/chest,
particularly among elderly e-bikers.

More on these dismal findings at:

<https://pssjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13037-022-00318-9>

--
Spike

On 24/08/2022 02:16 pm, Spike wrote:
>
> TL;DR…skip to Results
>
> Increased injury severity and hospitalization rates following crashes with
> e-bikes versus conventional bicycles: an observational cohort study from a
> regional level II trauma center in Switzerland
>
> Background
> As electric bicycles (e-bikes) become increasingly popular, reports of
> injuries associated with e-bike usage are also rising. Patterns,
> characteristics, and severity of injuries following e-bike crashes need
> further investigation, particularly in contrast to injuries from
> conventional bicycle crashes.
>
> Methods
> This prospective observational study included 82 patients treated at a
> Level II trauma center for injuries resulting from an electric or
> conventional bicycle crash. Data were collected over one year
> (05.09.2017–19.09.2018) during in- and outpatient visits. A study-specific
> case report form was used to identify the bicycle type, cycling behavior
> (e.g., use of a helmet, safety gear, alcohol), and circumstances of the
> crash (e.g., road conditions, speed, cause of the incident, time of day,
> season). Additional information about patient demographics, treatment, and
> injury characteristics, such as the Injury Severity Score (ISS) and body
> region injured, were documented. Results were analyzed using chi-square,
> Fisher’s exact, or Wilcoxon tests. Simple logistic or linear regression
> models were used to estimate associations.
>
> Results
> Of the 82 patients, 56 (67%) were riding a conventional bike and 27 (33%)
> were using an e-bike. Most incidents were either single-bicycle crashes
> (66%) or automobile collisions (26%), with no notable difference in
> prevalence rates between groups. Although a higher proportion of
> conventional bikers were male (67% vs. 48%), the difference was not
> significant. E-bikers were older (median 60 years (IQR 44–70) vs. 45 years
> (IQR 32–62); p = 0.008), were hospitalized more often (48% vs. 24%,
> p = 0.025), and had worse ISS (median 3 (IQR 2–4) vs. 1 (IQR 1–3),
> p < 0.001), respectively. Body regions most affected were the extremities
> (78%) and external/skin (46%), and these were distributed similarly in both
> groups. Concomitant injury patterns of the thorax/chest with external/skin
> were higher among e-bikers (p < 0.001). When we controlled for the
> difference in the median age of the two groups, only the injury severity
> score of e-bikers remained significantly worse.
>
> Conclusions
> Hospitalization and chest trauma rates were higher among e-bikers. After
> controlling for the older age of this group, the severity of their injuries
> remained worse than in conventional cyclists. Initial clinical assessments
> at trauma units should include an evaluation of the thorax/chest,
> particularly among elderly e-bikers.
>
> More on these dismal findings at:
>
> <https://pssjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13037-022-00318-9>

33% of self-inflicted fairy-cyclist injuries were on so-called "E-bikes"
(electric fairy-cycles)?

That has to be totally disproportionate to the numbers of those
particular fairy-bikes actually in use.

Urgent regulatory attention is obviously urgently needed.