Characteristics and clinical features of patients with electric kickboard-related injuries presenting to emergency departments via emergency medical services

Jeon, Seung Hwan; Kim, Duk Ho; Seo, Beom Sok; Cho, Kwang Hyun; Lee, Dong Wuk

J Korean Soc Emerg Med > Volume 36(3); 2025 > Article

Original Article

Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine 2025;36(3): 104-111.

구급대 이송을 통해 응급실로 내원한 전동 킥보드 외상 환자에 대한 임상적 특성 분석

전승환¹

¹을지대학교 노원을지대학교병원 응급의학과
²순천향대학교 서울병원 응급의학과

Characteristics and clinical features of patients with electric kickboard-related injuries presenting to emergency departments via emergency medical services

¹Department of Emergency Medicine, Nowon Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University, Seoul, Korea
²Department of Emergency Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence

Duk Ho Kim ,Tel: 02-970-8374, Fax: 050-4021-1729,, Email: 20180114@eulji.ac.kr,

Received: October 19, 2023; Revised: October 30, 2023 Accepted: October 31, 2023. Published online: June 30, 2025.

ABSTRACT

Objective:
We aimed to investigate the characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients with injuries sustained from electric kickboards transported via emergency medical services (EMS) to emergency departments (ED).
Methods:
We conducted a retrospective study between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2020, and collected data related to injuries from electric kickboard accidents. Patients were divided into two groups based on their use of EMS for postaccident transportation. To identify differences in the accident and injury characteristics, we gathered information on demographic details (age and sex), temporal factors (time and season of the accident), etiological factors (injury mechanism), anatomical injury locations, the Injury Severity Score (ISS), diagnostic evaluations, ED outcomes, need for surgical interventions, and interdepartmental consultations.
Results:
Of the 195 patients with electric kickboard-related injuries, 116 were transported via EMS, while 79 presented to EDs as walk-ins. Significant variations were observed in the type of accident, with falls being more prevalent in the EMS group (63.8% vs. 36.2%; P=0.002). The ISS was higher in the EMS group (median ISS, 4.5 vs. 3.0; P=0.018). Patients with multiple trauma site injuries, namely, triple site (32.8% vs. 24.1%), and quadra site (16.4% vs. 3.8%; P=0.007), were more prevalent in the EMS group. Head and neck trauma was also significantly higher in this group (59.5% vs. 30.4%; P<0.001).
Conclusion:
Patients transported by EMS were found to have a higher rate of injury due to fall mechanisms and exhibited mild trauma (ISS 1-8), multiple injuries, and head and neck injuries.

Key words: Hospital emergency service; Automobiles; Wounds and injuries