[Accidents involving a motorized mobility scooter: a growing problem].

OBJECTIVE

To analyze injury patterns, injury severity and mortality among victims of motorized mobility scooter (MMS) crashes in relation to the trauma mechanism and patient's age.

DESIGN

Retrospective descriptive cohort study.

METHOD: From the trauma registry of the Trauma Centre West (TCW), all MMS crash victims aged 18 years and older who were admitted to hospital during the period 2003-2013 were selected and their data were analyzed.

RESULTS

242 MMS crash victims were included, of whom 51% were aged 75 years or older. Severe trauma (Injury Severity Score ≥ 16) was diagnosed in 15% of all cases and was more common in victims of a high-energy trauma (p < 0.001) and patients 75 years or older (p = 0.04). Severe injuries after low-energy trauma mostly affected the extremities, and particularly the legs in elderly patients. Severe injuries after high-energy trauma mostly involved the chest and head, especially in patients younger than 75 years. 10 patients (4%) died in hospital, 5 of whom were 75 years or older and had suffered a low-energy trauma.

CONCLUSION

Low-energy as well as high-energy crashes involving the MMS may result in serious injuries and sometimes death. Awareness by multidisciplinary treatment teams may help to avoid underestimation of injury severity. MMS drivers need to improve their driving skills in order to reduce the number of MMS crashes.