| Abstract [eng] |
Relevance of the problem and aim of the work: The increasing use of electric scooters poses challenges to human safety and health as it is becoming a frequent cause of facial and maxillofacial injuries. However, epidemiological data on such injuries in Lithuania remain limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics, distribution, and circumstances of facial and maxillofacial injuries caused by electric scooter use at Vilnius University Hospital Žalgiris Clinic (hereinafter – VUL ŽK) during the period 2020–2024, and to determine their associations with sociodemographic factors, hospitalization indicators, and alcohol consumption. Objectives: To retrospectively analyze the nature and frequency of facial and maxillofacial injuries caused by electric scooters; to determine the distribution of injuries according to sociodemographic factors (age and gender); to evaluate the circumstances of injuries and their distribution; to analyze hospitalization indicators and their associations with injury characteristics; to assess the associations between alcohol consumption and injury circumstances as well as hospitalization indicators. Materials and methods: A retrospective cross–sectional study was conducted by analyzing medical records of patients treated at VUL ŽK during 2020–2024. The study included patients aged 18 years and older who sustained facial and maxillofacial injuries related to electric scooter use. Sociodemographic indicators, injury type and circumstances, treatment methods, and hospitalization data were evaluated. Data collection and statistical analysis were performed using Microsoft Office Excel and IBM SPSS Statistics 31.0 software. Shapiro–Wilk, Pearson’s Chi–square test, Fisher’s exact and Monte Carlo simulation tests were applied. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: A total of 108 patients were included in the study. The highest number of injuries was recorded in 2022 (n=42) and the lowest in 2020 (n=4) (p<0.001). The age of the participants ranged from 18 to 65 years, with a median age of 29 years. The highest number of injuries was observed in the 18–27 (n=49) and 28–37 (n=38) age groups. The most common injuries were soft tissue injuries (81.5 %) mostly in the head region (n=57). Hard tissue injuries were identified in 50 % of patients, with dental fractures being the most common (n=20). Hospitalization was required in 24.1 % of patients and was significantly more frequent among males (p=0.019). A significant association was found between hard tissue injuries and hospitalization (p<0.001), with all hospitalised patients having sustained this type of injury. Soft tissue injuries were more often treated on an outpatient basis (p<0.001). A higher number of injuries was observed during the summer months, weekends, and evening and nighttime hours (p<0.001). Patients under the influence of alcohol accounted for 16.7 % of cases and were more frequently transported to the healthcare facility by emergency medical services (EMS) compared to non–intoxicated patients (p=0.009). An association was also found between alcohol consumption and hospitalization lasting longer than 5 days (p=0.017). Conclusions: The number of facial and maxillofacial injuries caused by electric scooters varied unevenly during the period 2020–2024, with the highest number recorded in 2022 and the lowest in 2020. Injuries were most frequently sustained by young adults in the 18–27 and 28–37 age groups. Soft tissue injuries, localized in the head region, predominated, while dental fractures were the most common hard tissue injuries. Hard tissue injuries were associated with a greater need for hospitalization. Among hospitalized patients, young adults and males predominated. A higher number of injuries was observed during the warm season, on weekends, and during evening and nighttime hours. Alcohol consumption was associated with more frequent EMS transportation and longer hospitalization duration. |
