In recent years, the rapid rise in electric scooter (e-scooter) usage has brought about a new set of challenges for urban healthcare systems, particularly in emergency departments. A novel study conducted at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown in Dublin, Ireland, has meticulously quantified the financial repercussions stemming from e-scooter-related injuries. The hospital, serving a suburban catchment area, reported an average expenditure of €1,726 per patient for treating injuries linked to e-scooter accidents. Cumulatively, this translated into a staggering €128,650 in direct costs within a single year, highlighting the emergent fiscal strain on healthcare infrastructure due to micromobility-related trauma.
The study’s lead investigator, Dr. Thomas Suttie, a senior house officer specializing in emergency medicine, presented these findings at the European Emergency Medicine Congress. His research underscored a significant escalation in e-scooter injuries, with patient numbers more than tripling in 2023 compared to previous years. This surge is correlated with the increasing ubiquity of e-scooters as an urban transport modality, raising urgent questions about public safety measures and healthcare preparedness. Notably, this analysis represents one of the first comprehensive attempts within Ireland to assign tangible economic values to the clinical burden imposed by e-scooter accidents.
Dr. Suttie and his colleagues employed a retrospective review methodology, acquiring detailed data across several cost domains. These included emergency department admissions, inpatient hospital stays in acute care settings, radiologic diagnostics, surgical interventions, and subsequent outpatient follow-up appointments. The cohort comprised 76 patients who sustained injuries from e-scooter accidents over the course of 2023. Their injuries predominantly involved complex musculoskeletal trauma necessitating advanced medical interventions such as orthopedic surgeries and extended recovery timelines.
Musculoskeletal injuries represented the majority of clinical presentations, frequently involving fractures and soft tissue damage requiring both operative management and longitudinal orthopedic follow-up. Specifically, thirteen patients required admission for inpatient orthopedic care, while an additional thirty-four patients underwent outpatient monitoring or rehabilitation. These cases placed a substantial operational demand on orthopedic departments, reflecting the invasive nature of many e-scooter injuries. In contrast, head injuries, while common, largely did not necessitate intensive medical intervention, with no fatalities or intensive care admissions recorded in the study cohort.
From a financial perspective, the breakdown of costs revealed that emergency department attendances amounted to €35,264, hospital admissions accounted for €75,600, and outpatient services accrued costs totaling €17,380. The weighted average expenditure per patient (including all services received) reached €1,726. These figures elucidate the multifaceted resource allocation required to address e-scooter-related injuries comprehensively, ranging from initial triage to ongoing rehabilitative care. The hospital’s suburban context suggests that these costs could be a conservative estimate, with central urban hospitals likely contending with even greater financial burdens due to higher patient volumes and potentially more severe injury patterns.
The implications of these findings extend beyond the confines of a single hospital, suggesting systemic pressures on Irish healthcare services and by extension, comparable European medical centers. As e-scooter popularity proliferates in urban environments, policymakers and healthcare planners must anticipate growing demands on emergency and surgical services. The researchers advocate for increased funding and resource allocation to manage the rising tide of e-scooter injuries, emphasizing the need for preventative strategies to mitigate these costs and improve rider safety.
Legislative reforms and enhanced public health initiatives are posited as critical levers for curbing injury incidence. Dr. Suttie proposes measures such as mandatory helmet laws and rigorous enforcement of existing safety standards, including speed limitations and compliance with legal requirements for e-scooter operation. These interventions aim to reduce both the frequency and severity of injuries, thereby alleviating the financial and clinical burden experienced by hospitals and other healthcare providers.
Complementing Dr. Suttie’s cost analysis, a related study focused on the epidemiological impact of recent legislative changes in Ireland concerning e-scooter use. This research, presented as a poster at the same congress, examined injury trends following the legal authorization of e-scooter use on roads by individuals over 16, with speed capped at 20 km/h. Interestingly, while injuries among under-16 riders decreased, the overall incidence of e-scooter injuries climbed. Concomitantly, helmet usage declined alarmingly, and incidents involving intoxication or substance abuse among injured riders increased, contributing to more severe outcomes and a rise in hospital admissions.
Expert commentary from Dr. Felix Lorang, chair of the EUSEM abstract selection committee and head of emergency services at SRH Zentralklinikum Suhl in Germany, contextualizes these findings. Dr. Lorang highlights the exponential growth in e-scooter use across Europe and anticipates a parallel rise in associated healthcare demands. The data portend increased hospital admissions for a broader spectrum of injuries, necessitating adaptations in clinical protocols and resource planning. Dr. Lorang emphasizes the urgency of implementing safety measures to mitigate risks and preparing healthcare professionals to diagnose and treat injury types that may differ from traditional trauma presentations.
In summary, this pioneering research from Ireland compellingly quantifies the economic impact of a burgeoning public health challenge posed by e-scooter injuries. It reveals an alarming elevation in patient influx with complex trauma cases that strain emergency and orthopedic services while generating substantial treatment costs. The study advocates for multi-faceted interventions encompassing legislative action, targeted public health campaigns, and enhanced hospital readiness. As urban mobility continues to evolve, the findings serve as a clarion call for integrated strategies to safeguard rider health and ensure sustainable healthcare resource utilization.
The emerging crisis in e-scooter safety and its ramifications on healthcare infrastructure underscore a critical juncture for urban transport policy. Without comprehensive safety protocols and enforcement, hospitals may increasingly shoulder the financial and operational burdens of preventable injuries. This research elucidates the tangible cost of innovation in urban mobility, where advances in transport convenience must be balanced against the imperative of public health and safety. Future research is necessary to explore long-term outcomes, cost mitigation strategies, and the efficacy of policy interventions in reducing the injury burden attributable to e-scooters.
Subject of Research: People
Article Title: Retrospective review and cost-based analysis of electric scooter (e-scooter) injuries presenting to an Irish Hospital
News Publication Date: 29-Sep-2025
References:
[1] Abstract no: OA152, “Retrospective review and cost-based analysis of electric scooter (e-scooter) injuries presenting to an Irish Hospital” by Thomas Suttie, presented at the European Emergency Medicine Congress 2025.
[2] Abstract no: POS409, “Electric scooter-related maxillofacial injuries: outcome of recent legislation change in Ireland,” by Min Seo Jung, poster session at the European Emergency Medicine Congress 2025.
Keywords: Health care, Hospitals, Health care costs, Emergency medicine, Medical facilities, Orthopedics, Surgery, Neurosurgery, Reconstructive surgery, Medical economics, Health care delivery
