Pediatric Electrical Bicycle Road Accidents

Background: The use of electric bicycles(EB) in the pediatric age group is rapidly increasing worldwide becoming a substantial contributor to road accidents.

Aim: This study analyzes the patterns and severity of pediatric bicycle related injuries, comparing children riding EB and classic bicycle(CB).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study(January 2016 to December 2018), of patients under 18 years-old. Data was collected from medical records and included demographics, injury characteristics, treatment and outcomes.

Results: 561 children arrived at our medical center after a bicycle accident. 197(35%) were EB drivers and 364(65%) were CB drivers. ISS of EB cyclists was significantly higher than CB cyclists(mean 4.08±4.67 and 3.16±2.84 respectively, P=0.012). Accidents involving motorized vehicles were found at higher rates in the EBs group(25.9% compared to 11.3% in CB, P<0.001). Head injuries were the most common type of injury in both groups(CB cyclists suffered more head injuries than EB cyclists), However, loss of consciousness was more common in the EB group(18.3% and 12.1%, respectively, P=0.057). Lower-extremity Injuries were more common in EB than CB(55.8% and 37.6% respectively, P<0.001).
Orthopedic surgical interventions were significantly higher in the EB group(49.2% compared to 33.2% in CB, P<0.001) and length of stay in hospital, admission to Pediatric ICU were more common in EB compared to CB, although without a significant difference.

Conclusions: Injury severity of EB patients was significantly higher than CB patients. Accidents involving motorized vehicles were more common in the EB group. Head injury associated loss of consciousness was significantly higher in the EB patients.